Mofokeng, Mokoena on South Africa's draw with Czechs that keeps World Cup hopes alive

[p]Bafana Bafana will have to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] in their final Group A fixture on June 24 to stand a chance of advancing to the round of 32, though even that may not be enough defending on what happens in other matches. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mokoena-teboho/MFTeufFd/"]Teboho Mokoena[/a] equalised from the penalty spot after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sadilek-michal/zJiFbA7r/"]Michal Sadilek[/a] had given the Czechs an early lead.[/p][p]Their second half showing was inspired by the introduction of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mofokeng-relebohile/hx20yWyp/"]Relebohile Mofokeng[/a], who announced himself on the big stage with a fine performance. [/p][p][b]“The coach’s (Hugo Broos) instruction was that I must play behind the defensive midfielders because there was space there,” [/b]Mofokeng told SABC Sport. [b]“In the first half, I think the Czechs did very well to find the spaces, but we needed more attacks. I think we did very well in the second half to attack them and put them under pressure, so I think we did very well.[/b][/p][p][b]“Obviously, it is my first World Cup and my first game, so the coach just told me to be confident and to believe in myself. He told me that he believes in me, so I must believe in myself.[/b][/p][p][b]“The game was very difficult because, obviously, this is a bigger stage. I think you just need confidence and you need to believe in yourself. The coach just said I must play, I must be myself and just do my best.”[/b][/p][embed guid="9037d170-6679-4a9a-bc8b-a5f67124a150" url="https://x.com/BafanaBafana/status/2067669961871405560?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]South Africa had to deal with a more physical Czech side, but Mofokeng says that is when football intelligence comes in to play.[/p][p][b]“I think you just need brains when people are more physical than you. You need to think more, move more, see the spaces quicker [/b]and get into the spaces quicker.[/p][p]“It is very difficult for us because we are the youngest team and the shortest team, but I think we must just use our brains, our confidence and our quickness. I think we will do very well.[/p][p][b]“We believed that we could win. We came here to win, so when Teboho converted the penalty, it gave us confidence and courage that we could win.[/b][/p][p][b]“We gave our all and we gave our best. We will keep on doing our best.”[/b][/p][embed guid="b4cc21e1-6d5d-4284-befa-f852984e644e" url="https://x.com/BafanaBafana/status/2067671228001787936?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Mokoena’s penalty came after he had received a yellow card which means he will have to sit out Bafana’s final pool fixture against South Korea with a one-match suspension, having also been booked against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a].[/p][p][b]“I was relieved. I thought we could get another one because I think that is what we needed. We needed to score a goal so that it could open the way for other goals," [/b]Mokoena said.[/p][p][b]“I was relieved, but unfortunately I won’t be there for the next game because I am suspended. So I was a little bit sad, and I was like, ‘You know what, let’s push for another one, please.’[/b][/p][p][b]“We wanted to go into the next game with three points, but unfortunately we could not. But I am proud of the team, the way we played and the way we showed up.[/b][/p][p][b]“I can also give credit to the supporters, who kept on cheering for us and giving us time.[/b][/p][p][b]“I think I played better with a yellow card because, you know, I am very crazy and I don’t pull out, so when I have a yellow card maybe I am a little bit more cautious.”[/b][/p][image alt="Teboho Mokoena with a Man of the Match performance" id="979b4950-2145-4da3-bf79-050c2c5ca56b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f6a9054b-0c74-490f-807b-0b480ad5a197" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Mokoena says it has been a life-changing experience to be at the World Cup, whatever happens in the final fixture. [/p][p][b]“But it is an amazing experience to be at the World Cup. I know everyone back home is cheering for me. I have got so many messages from back home and I know they stayed up to watch me,”[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]“It is amazing. I don’t know how I am feeling, I am just excited and I am living my dream. Thank you to everyone who has been sending[/b] [b]messages from back home.”[/b][/p]