Maseko opens up on Bafana revival and the Vaal production line of talent

It was Maseko’s attempted shot at goal that hit a Czech player’s arm and resulted in a penalty just seven minutes from full-time. 

Teboho Mokoena scored from the resultant penalty to secure the first point in this tournament and keep the team’s hopes of progressing to the knockout phase alive. The 22-year-old talks about the importance of patience...

"One thing has been important, and that is patience and having the belief that things will eventually work out."

READ: The time George Weah ran out of patience with racism

Such has been the impact of Maseko’s game that he started the game against Czechia and reminded Broos of what he’s capable of. 

In this tournament, Bafana are one of the teams who are traveling the most, having just returned from the US, and Maseko says it comes with the territory.

Interestingly, for Maseko to revive his career, it took a decision to go public on social media platforms, asking to be loaned out and get game time away from Sundowns. 

The move to Cyprus to link up with AEL Limassol helped the former SuperSport United player, but he says it’s not something he would do again to force a move away from the club.

Maseko is one of three players from the Vaal region in this World Cup team, alongside Relebohile Mofokeng and his Orlando Pirates teammate Tshepang Moremi. He says the area has never been short of talent, but now there’s an element of professionalism that the current generation is adding...

"I think for a long time there has been a stigma that the players from the Vaal are disrespectful and they don't really succeed in football, but we have shown this is not the case."