”Hot Beans” is one of the many names suggested by readers of a daily newspaper for Bafana Bafana after President Thabo Mbeki this week questioned the distinction of the national senior soccer team’s name.
”What kind of a name is it [Bafana Bafana]? I don’t think it is fit for a senior national team or for the hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” Mbeki said on Metro FM earlier this week.
Fans and players alike have been drawn in to the debate and while some agree that the name should change, others want it to stay. Those who want the name change let their imaginations run wild with suggestions in the daily paper’s Friday edition.
Double-barrelled names such as ”Madoda Madoda”, ”Zonke Zonke” and ”Amaloosahloosah” are mentioned while curious names such as ”Ama Quawe Omzansi”, ”Aulete Umshini Wetu” and ”Uthuli Lwezicwe” are mentioned too.
The Springboks’ recent Rugby World Cup victory inspired some fans to name the team after their coach, Jake White. The ”Jake of All Trades” and the ”Jake Whites” are noted as proposals.
Animal names made up the bulk of ideas, with ”Anacondas”, ”Wild Dogs”, ”Green Scorpions”, ”SA Eagles”, ”Bears”, ”Rhinos”, ”SA Penguins”, ”Zebras”, ”Ostriches”, ”Hungry Lions” and ”Blue Cranes” on the list.
Former president Nelson Mandela also inspired fans to name the national soccer team after him. ”Madiba Bafana” and ”Great Madibas” are top names South Africans think would be suitable for the 1996 African champions. — Sapa