Bafana's Elias Mokwana: fuelled by passion, driven by a World Cup dream

"I am going to do everything in my power to realise my dream. I don’t think I will let anyone stand in my way. I will fight until the end so we can go to the World Cup in 2026."

Elias Mokwana was still basking in the afterglow of his fantastic assist, which helped break Lesotho’s stubborn resistance and secured Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory in the Group C World Cup qualifier at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium over the weekend.

Out in the rarefied atmosphere of The Ranch Resort, where his teammates enjoyed a game of table tennis and some members of the technical team attempted to channel their inner Tiger Woods on the golf course, Mokwana was all chuckles as he reflected on that ‘run.’ He was, in a way, coerced into ‘doing what you are good at,’ the Esperance player revealed.

“At half-time, Tebza (Teboho Mokoena) and Ronza (Ronwen Williams) told me to do my thing. They told me to play just like I did against Algeria — to take the guys on. And then I said to Sailor (Khuliso Mudau), ‘pass me the ball’,” he chuckled aloud, the pride of his contribution evident in the glint in his eye.

Picking up the ball on the right flank, Mokwana took on one marker and beat him. He went at another, appeared to lose the ball, but it fortuitously bounced off the Lesotho player and fell back into his path. He needed no second invitation — he ran towards the opposition’s goal, cut inside, and then laid the ball off for Relebohile Mofokeng to slot home his first Bafana goal in his first official start.

The capacity crowd at the 2010 World Cup venue went hysterical, and nearly everyone on the Bafana bench ran onto the pitch to celebrate.

The opportunity to realize a dream he had nurtured since childhood — and one that was dashed in 2022 — is what fuels Mokwana to give his all for the national team.

“Being called up to the national team is amazing. I always tell people that, and I even shared it in my posts on Facebook. I always dreamed of playing at the 2022 World Cup. It didn’t happen, but I guess now I have a chance in 2026. I’m really happy that I’ve taken a step toward my dream.”

The young man from KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga, though born in Kwa, Limpopo, is confident that Bafana have what it takes to top the group and secure the automatic spot at the expanded global football spectacle, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US.

“We just need to focus on our games and not worry about how others play. As long as we focus on getting the points. We have one away game (against Benin on Tuesday) and then four home games. So, let’s just keep collecting those three points.”

With the massive support they now enjoy during home matches, the lad who started his professional career with Sekhukhune United believes they’ll have the wind at their backs as they push toward the ultimate stage of the sport.

“It’s a good thing because it also pushes us. Just like yesterday against Lesotho, when the score was still nil-nil, the crowd kept pushing us, and because of that, we were driven to make them happy. They spent their money to come and see us, so we had to make them very happy.”

That they can bring joy to others is because they themselves are happy, Mokwana confirmed, echoing what captain Williams said about the incredible team spirit and brotherhood within the squad.

“The good thing in this camp is that we are like brothers. The love is immense.

"Every time I come here, I’m just happy because everyone is smiling, and that contributes to us winning matches. I’ve never seen anyone fighting with another. We have a great spirit in this camp. It’s also about pushing each other to perform at our best. Everyone does their job.”

What is it they say about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts?

While Bafana sit at the top of the group at the halfway mark, qualification is far from secured, with the formidable Nigerian Super Eagles lurking in the background, eager to pounce should Bafana slip. But Mokwana is unfazed by Nigeria’s growing momentum following their shaky start.

“The pressure from Nigeria won’t affect us. We just need to do our job, and Nigeria will do theirs. We will just win our matches and see how things go from there.”

That Bafana players now speak with such confidence is largely due to the magical touch of a silver-haired septuagenarian named Hugo Broos.

“He’s like a father figure to us—ever since I got here,” Mokwana chuckled.

“I like the way he wants us to play. He understands the players’ strengths and plays each one to their strengths. That’s why I say, if the coach believes in you, you also want to show your gratitude — to say thank you with good performances.”

Mokwana loves that Broos has faith in him and plays him regularly.

“Being one of the first-choice players, I am happy and really appreciate it. It’s good that the coach believes in me, and I want to always work hard for him and the team.”

And for himself too — because Mokwana has a World Cup dream that he is not going to let slip away. Not to Benin. Not even to Nigeria.