Former South Africa winger and attacking midfielder Steven Pienaar has urged Bafana Bafana to make more runs in behind ahead of their decisive Group A match against South Korea, writing on X that he wants to see “breaking runs” from the side.
Pienaar, who starred for Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax and was a key member of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup squad, posted during the 1-1 draw with Czechia: “Why is there no running off the ball from Bafana? They all want the ball to feet, no deep runs.”
South Africa salvaged a point in Atlanta when Teboho Mokoena converted a penalty in the 83rd minute, but the result left Bafana bottom of Group A as they prepare for the meeting with South Korea in Guadalupe next Wednesday. Kick-off is scheduled at 3 a.m. on Thursday for viewers in South Africa.
The group standings have Mexico on six points, South Korea three and Czechia and South Africa level on one point, with Czechia ahead on goal difference. This South African side, like the 2010 team, will enter its final group game with one point from two matches; however, the expanded tournament means third place could be sufficient to reach the round of 32.
Pienaar followed his in-game message with a post after the match: “Well done boys. Now, on to the next. Please, next, we game we need breaking runs – please boys.” There is no current English top-flight player in the squad after Lyle Foster was relegated with Burnley, but South African club football has been strong, with Mamelodi Sundowns winning a second CAF Champions League title in 2025-26 — Mokoena scored the decisive goal in the Rabat final second leg and later netted the penalty that earned South Africa a point against Czechia.
