He said these names are not “fit” for national teams and that they do not carry the respect, status and symbolisms a national team should carry. I mean think about it, the cricket team is called the Proteas which is SA’s national flower and the Rugby team is called the Springboks which is SA’s national animal.
Sentiments along the same lines were uttered by Fikile Mbalula, the current Sports Minister "the name change process must be considered, even if it turns out to be a long and intricate process."
"Name change is a debate worth looking at... we are well-respected in the African continent, we are climbing the Fifa World rankings and I wonder if we still need that name [Bafana Bafana],"
With most football lovers against that and SAFA struggling to find reasons to change the name, businessman Stanton Woodrush, who owns the Bafana Bafana trademark, threw SAFA a lifeline and gave them a reason to change the name. Whether we like it or not, we can not allow that "Woodrush" to continue milking it while sitting at home just because the previous SAFA regime did not do their job properly.
My take is, over and above the fact that i also find no sense in all these names, SAFA and Football development will suffer should we continue wit this name.
The money Woodrush has pocketed so far could've done more for soccer development. The fact that the current SAFA leadership seem to be failing in this regard with the little that they have doesn't mean the next leadership will fail as well. They will need that money that woodrush is pocketing to develop the sport.
My feeling is simple, loud and clear, CHANGE THE NAME!
By Wonder Dila
