Bafana Bafana assistant coach and former AFCON winner, Mkhalele goes down memory lane
South Africa will be playing in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-final for the first time in 24 years after last making it to this stage of the competition back in 2000.
Coincidentally, it was Nigeria whom they meet on Wednesday, that knocked them out of the competition.
Before then, Bafana Bafana lifted the continental title in 1996, with the man nicknamed the Midnight Express, Helman Mkhalele being a key figure of the squad.
Now assistant to 2017 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON winning coach Hugo Broos, Mkhalele went down memory lane with CAFOnline on lifting the 1996 title, how much of a lucky charm Cote d’Ivoire is after lifting the CAF Champions League with Orlando Pirates in Abidjan back in 1995, as well as his role in inspiring this current generation.
03 Feb 1996 you won the AFCON, 2023 same date you qualify for the first semi-final since 2000, how does this feel?
I think there is something unique about the 3rd of February which I believe after 24 years of us not getting to the semi-finals, so I think its an indication that there is something good that might happen for us as a team. Lifting the trophy won’t be easy but we will give it our all to ensure that we achieve our goal.
Are you having any personal flashbacks or memories of the 1996 triumph now that you are here?
First and foremost, the nation that was behind us in 1996, I still feel the support back at home. I could feel and sense that vibe. So all those memories of 1996 are coming back. There smiles uniting the nation. I feel that God is giving us this opportunity once more to to our and make our country proud.
As a player at club level and at national team level. At a club level here in Cote d’Ivoire, we lifted the CAF Champions League with Orlando Pirates. Now here I am again and for us to win it, for the first time away from home. So, such flashes are coming back to mind.
How does it feel walking this same journey that you walked 27 years ago?
I would be lying to think I would be here now. I believe God is at work and Him making sure that I represent my country at any given time, so I am really not surprised because of the dedication I have out it to serve my country. But I also have to say that I never thought I would represent my country at this stage, especially after so many years.
4. Have you shared any inspirational memories of 1996 with the current generation?
I have been sharing with some of them and making them aware that when we won it in 1996, somewhere not even born. In our last appearance in the semi-finals in 2000, some of them were not born. So for me to be a part of this generation, I can’t really find words to describe the amazing journey with this current crop of players because you can even see that when you tell them such stories, the hunger and how the nation adores you is something they also want to experience.