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Gayton McKenzie, Sports MinisterBackpage
Kiplagat Sang

Gayton McKenzie confirms SAFA's completion of investigation into Teboho Mokoena World Cup qualifying blunder but defends team manager Vincent Tseka 'Bafana Bafana are still under-resourced'

Although Bafana saw their points reduced for fielding the Masandawana star, they fought hard in the remaining qualifiers to seal their place in the 2026 finals. The South African Sports Minister has acknowledged there was a blunder but has defended the team manager, saying he has taken responsibility. McKenzie has also revealed the amount of bonuses Bafana players will get for the AFCON and World Cup finals.

  • Teboho Mokoena, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    Investigation complete

    Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation Gayton McKenzie has confirmed that the South African Football Association (SAFA) has completed its investigation into the Teboho Mokoena suspension saga. 

    SAFA and Bafana Bafana found themselves in hot soup after the Mamelodi Sundowns star played in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March.   

    After FIFA deducted three points from Bafana, an investigation was launched to find out what went wrong. 

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  • Gayton McKenzie, Sports MinisterBackpage

    Clarity

    “I gave SAFA seven days to give us answers to ensure that this never happens again, and they complied with my request,” McKenzie told the media session at Freedom Park in Pretoria. 

    “SAFA has complied with my request and has completed its investigation. They provided me with a very comprehensive investigation, and I can report today that we now have full clarity on what happened. 

    “The report confirms this was not an act of negligence or sabotage but rather a strange, highly unusual set of coincidences."

    “Despite their results on the field, Bafana Bafana are still under-resourced. That’s the uncomfortable truth.”

  • Teboho Mokoena, Bafana Bafana, August 2025Backpage

    Tseka shielded

    After McKenzie confirmed completion of the process, he also defended the national side's team manager. The minister's stance is likely to save the team manager from a potential sacking.   

    “The two yellow cards issued to Teboho Mokoena came 16 months apart, an almost unheard-of gap. The team manager, Vincent Tseka, who has taken responsibility for that oversight despite numerous excruciating circumstances, was not present when the second card was issued, as he had left the field to fetch ice for the players," the minister explained.

    “That extraordinary coincidence tells us something deeper: that our national team is operating under immense strain. Despite the tremendous progress in the field and positive results, Bafana Bafana are still under-resourced.”

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  • Bafana Bafana, South AfricaBackpage

    Bonus for Bafana stars

    Meanwhile, the minister also confirmed Bafana Bafana will get R5 million in their preparation for the highly anticipated African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup finals.  

    “R5 million will be going to the players in preparation for the African Nations Cup and the World Cup,” McKenzie stated.

    The AFCON finals will begin in December this year and end in January 2026. Bafana are in Group B, where they will clash against perennial winners Egypt, as well as COSAFA rivals Angola and Zimbabwe.

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