The Under-23s are the latest to join the party following the national Under-17s and Under-20s, as well as the senior women’s team’s qualification to major tournaments this year, perhaps suggesting that ‘Vision 2022’ may well become a reality.
Mashaba, who guided the Under-23s to the Sydney Olympics in 2000, certainly believes so as he pointed out the achievements of the respective national teams the 2015 calendar year.
“It comes as no surprise to us from the South African Football Association; it was our plan and we are on the right track of achieving it,” he said.
“I remember the president [Danny Jordaan] addressing us in Maseru after we had won the Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championship [in 2013] where he said, ‘this is the road from Maseru to Moscow’.
“And it is definitely on course. I mean, the Under-17s did very well coming from the World Cup, which is what we looked at, the Under-20s won the Commonwealth Games and qualified for the Africa Cup, now the Under-23s have qualified [for the Olympics].
“What about our women’s team? They are there! First time in the history of football we have two teams in the Olympics.”
Mashaba then quickly poured cold water over any doubts that South Africa would go the Olympic football tournament merely to add numbers, as he called for the two qualified teams to bring back the trophies.
“What we are going to do now is, we’ve got to work hard and bring two Olympic final trophies back home – it’s possible.”