South African star, Everton’s Steven Pienaar, told the Daily Mail newspaper that Bafana Bafana “felt like kings of the world” after their emotion-drenched 1-1 draw against Mexico in their tournament curtain-raiser.

Pienaar, who is writing a tournament diary for the London-based newspaper, said: “What an absolutely phenomenal experience. We knew this was going to be emotional but this is incredible.

“South Africa is on top of the world at the moment.”

 

Siphiwe Tshabalala gave Bafana Bafana the lead with what could easily be one of the goals of the tournament before leading a puzzling, choreographed goal celebration.

Pienaar, however, was unable to explain the dance, claiming, possibly tongue-in-cheek, that “I haven’t got a clue what the celebration was about. I was just glad of the rest while the lads danced.”

Pienaar may never find out, as Tshabalala has promised a new celebration should he breach Uruguay’s defence in tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) second group match, in Pretoria, a day which is now a South African public holiday

Tshababala said: “There are different celebrations coming. We have practiced them during training.”

And he vowed that: “we’ll make sure we get all three points so that it’ll be a celebration for the whole nation.”