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Teboho Mokoena started the match in tears but finished it with a smile, converting a second-half penalty to secure a 1-1 draw for South Africa against the Czech Republic at the World Cup on Thursday. Mokoena, whose tears were captured by cameras during the national anthem before the game, scored in the 83rd minute.
The South African midfielder revealed he was overcome with emotion before kickoff, thinking of his late grandfather.
“I know wherever he is, he would be proud of me,” Mokoena said. “I just felt his presence at that moment. I thought to myself, if he were here, he would be proud of me because I know he believed in me when no one else did.”
Michal Sadilek had given the Czechs an early lead in the sixth minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams had lost their opening matches and knew that another setback would severely jeopardize their chances of reaching the knockout stage, which will feature 32 teams out of 48.
In their next Group A match, South Africa will face South Korea on Wednesday, but they will be without Mokoena, who is suspended due to accumulating two yellow cards in the tournament. The Czechs, having lost 2-1 to the Koreans in their first match, will likely need to defeat Mexico in their final game on Wednesday to advance.
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