I am taken aback by Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who arrived late for the AFCON training camp despite being expected on time.
At this level, professionalism is non‑negotiable. When a national team player treats a major continental tournament with such casual discipline, it reflects a deeper problem in our football culture.
I’ve spent many years with my brother Harold McGluwa , the late Anthony Bennet, Busmark Appels, Allan Van Rhede to mention a few – developing young footballers, including the ones who made it all the way to Orlando Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtics and Kaizer Chiefs and other PSL soccer clubs.
More then 30 years ago, I recall our arrival in Johannesburg with promising young talent for trials, witnessing Coach Augusto Palacios at the time who didn’t negotiate or bend any rules. He didn’t hesitate but send some players packing for arriving late, teaching them a tough but valuable lesson in discipline.
That was the standard of the football we know.
Today, 3 decades later the same behaviour is suddenly tolerated on the biggest stage. That is not growth; it is decay. When leadership abandons discipline, the entire football ecosystem follows.
This is not an isolated incident — it is a symptom of a leadership culture that has normalised ill‑discipline and dragged down the standards of South African football. We see the same pattern in SAFA’s conduct when they appear before the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture.
A case in point is exuses by fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the AFCON qualifiers. Add to that the contradictions around retirement ages, the “ice boy” saga, inconsistent travel policies, and glaring salary disparities — all of which point to systemic governance failures.
Their unprofessionalism, inconsistency, and disregard for accountability continue to erode public trust. This is clearly evident in Mbokazi’s behaviour, and no excuse can justify or absolve his actions.
This is not new. In 2011, SAFA committed a major administrative blunder when Bafana Bafana celebrated qualifying for the 2012 AFCON tournament, only to later discover they had misinterpreted the rules.
We must hold SAFA to the highest standard, because the future of our football depends on it.
Joe McGluwa is currently a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly and has served on the Portfolio Committees for Sport, Arts and Culture.
