[imagesource: Reuters/Martin Rickett]

June 11, 2010, saw the FIFA World Cup kick off at Soccer City in Soweto.

Bafana Bafana faced off against Mexico, and in the 55th minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala wrote his name into the history books.

It seems unreal that it’s been 10 years to the day since his magic left foot caused the entire nation, continent, and most of the world to leap for joy, but here we are.

This week’s Throwback Thursday celebrates an iconic moment, and an iconic piece of commentary, with Peter Drury’s ‘goal for South Africa, goal for all Africa’ a fitting tribute.

Much like Cheslin Kolbe stepping the Poms, I will never tire of watching this footage:

The vuvuzelas, the strike, the back of the net almost bursting loose, the dance – without a doubt, one of the greatest sporting moments this country has ever seen.

IOL reached out to Tshabalala this week, who described the moment from his perspective:

“As soon as I received the ball, the first touch was good. I initially thought of lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper but I ended up unleashing a powerful shot. I felt it when the ball left the foot that it was definitely going in.”

As he ran towards the corner flag, with his arms outstretched, to celebrate with his teammates – and the vuvuzela sounds bursting to life at the packed Soccer City Stadium – it was a deja vu moment for Tshabalala.

Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images

“At some point, I was in my own world. I reminisced on the journey when I was still young and scoring beautiful goals. No one was watching but I was cheering myself,” he said.

“And now I was scoring one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football where almost everyone in the world witnessed it, it was really amazing.”

Goosebumps.

Every South African sports fan remembers exactly where they were when that ball hit the back of the net, and the feeling of sheer, unadulterated joy that followed.

Siphiwe, you absolute beauty. Read the rest of that interview here.

[sources:iol&