Pitso Mosimane: Teams from Pot 3-including Bafana-can Spring World Cup surprises

Mosimane, who was an assistant coach to the 1994 World Cup-winning coach and Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira with Bafana at the 2010 World Cup, knows all about the dramatic few hours before the draw.

Speaking during the launch of the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football and HiSense partnership, Mosimane says at this stage, the thinking is all about predictions and the pot you are placed in.

"You can predict the groups a bit because there's different pots, and when you are in pot 3, you know that you will meet two other teams with a higher ranking, but these kind of teams always cause trouble for the others in the group stage."

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As hosts, Bafana were seeded in Group A in 2010, alongside Mexico, France and Uruguay. It was a tough group, as they finished third and became the first host country not to advance to the knockout phase. Mosimane feels that Bafana has really progressed and stands a chance of making a meaningful impact in a 48-team World Cup...

Equally ecstatic about tonight’s draw is the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie...

"I don't care who is put in front of us, and I don't care if they call our group the group of death or the easy group, because Bafana Bafana are champions.

"This team has undergone immense hatred. When points were deducted from us, Nigeria were celebrating, but this team just kept on. So for us to be in the World Cup, it shows you the type of champions we are."

McKenzie, who has been solidly behind Bafana Bafana in this World Cup qualification campaign, says South African football has not been in this great position in a very long time.

He’s predicting a successful campaign for coach Hugo Broos and his team next year in the US...

Also present during today’s announcement in Pretoria was another staunch football fan, Gauteng’s Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and he’s ready for any team coming out of the draw.