Berbatov's Message To Bafana & Supporters

Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov has given Bafana Bafana some words of wisdom following their opening FIFA World Cup defeat to co-hosts Mexico.

Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma at SuperSport studios, where he is working as a pundit for the World Cup, Berbatov gave his opinion on the opening goal, which Bafana Bafana conceded, and ultimately sparked debate amongst supporters.

The debate was around whether Ronwen Williams was wrong for making the pass to Sphephelo Sithole or if the midfielder should have received the ball better. Sithole lost possession of the ball, and Bafana were punished in the eighth minute, resulting in the match going downhill from there.

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Berbatov, a legend of English Premier League football, stressed the importance of Bafana Bafana and supporters staying united after the defeat to Mexico.

Bafana Bafana are still going to play against Czechia and South Korea in the remaining Group A matches and need to go into these games as a united front. Finger-pointing, he feels, will not help the team in any way.

"I saw the goals because I was flying here. Obviously, the first goal (Bafana Bafana conceded) was a mistake. That's why I say you need to know who you are. Are you good on the ball? Are you scanning the pitch when they give you the ball? Do you know where the opposition is? Do you know if someone is attacking your back and you need to be ready to guard the ball or get a better first touch? If you don't, then that goal will happen in the eighth minute, and it's going to make your life difficult," Berbatov said in an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma.

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"You need to work as a team. In the case of South Africa, I think when you have that experience of a coach who is 74, he has his principles of playing. You need to be strong as a team, especially when you lose the first game.

"Now the team needs to stick together, and the nation needs to stick together. It's not that easy, of course, because everyone will be disappointed and angry, and you start blaming people, but don't do that. Stay together and support each other, especially the team, and then you hope the next game you are going to get the points, that's it."

Bafana's next match will be against Czechia on Thursday, which is a game they cannot afford to lose if they want to keep their hopes of progressing to the last 32 alive.

The team will be without Sithole and Themba Zwane, who were both sent off, but there are players in the team who are itching to get onto the pitch and do the job for the national team.