South African players want to pay tribute to their assistant coach by winning AFCON title

2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off January, 19 in Johannesburg. Host nation South Africa is touted as the favorite to win its second ACP trophy because of the strong squad filled with quality players. Yet there is one more special reason for Bafana Bafana to claim the AFCON title.

Assistant South Africa coach Thomas Madiga has tragically died in a car accident in October, 2012. Most of the players took the death of their mentor and coach close to heart and hope to turn their rueful feelings into the energetic performance during the Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi revealed that the best way to pay tribute to the coach is winning the tournament on home soil.

According to the latest team news South Africa will miss their all-time best leading scorer Benni McCarthy and defender Eric Mathoho who have been dropped out of the South Aftica squad due to injuries. However the support from South African home crowd will undoubtedly be strong motivator to put the shoulder to the wheel and win 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off January, 19 in Johannesburg.