A win for the Zebras will seal a maiden berth in the AFCON finals that oil-rich Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are to co-host next January. As captain Mompati Thuma said before the team's departure on Tuesday, that the Zebras have never been this close to qualifying for CAF's flagship tournament. The team's finest hour beckons and it is at this hour that the team needs our support. The fans often turn up in large numbers for the Zebras' home games but we are always found wanting when the team travels abroad. Granted, the team has not been fluent on the pitch, but results have been coming. The supporters were crucial when the Zebras mounted a serious challenge in the 2004 qualifiers under Serbian coach, Jelusic Veselin. The nation rallied behind the team and football became a unifying force as fans from across the divide were united for one cause. Thousands travelled with the team although qualification was not achieved.
It is worrying therefore to notice dwindling interest in the national team. There was no fun fare at the airport when the team left for Chad. Only a handful of supporters bothered to bid the nation's heroes farewell. This trend should be reversed. There might be some fans who may be unhappy with the way the team plays, but this should not be reason enough to shun the boys. It is at this moment that the team needs everyone's support. This is the best Zebras side we have ever had and statistics do not lie. Stanley Tshosane's charges became the first side to record back-to-back victories over Tunisia, they climbed to the highest ever FIFA ranking - 53rd and are unbeaten in five competitive matches. Sadly some fans choose to ignore such bright statistics and instead prefer to dwell on the negative or the way the results came. At times it is not always the best team that wins in soccer. Even with fortuitous results, we might climb the podium and claim the African crown next January. What matters is the result.
