Is South Africa finally ready to shake off the so-called “Chokers” tag and prove their worth in this ICC World Cup 2023? World Cup is around the corner, so use 22Bet promo code to try your luck. Having myriads of star players in the squad did not actually serve the purpose of winning the World Cup so far for South Africa. They have never succeeded to go beyond the semi-final hurdle yet. It is a burning question of the South African cricket fan followers whether they can meet the expectations or not. Their performance at big tournaments confuses people. The following article will dig deeper into that discussion by analyzing some mentionable remarks of the experts in the relevant field.
Why did the South African cricket team get associated with the “Chokers” tag?
The origin of the term “chokers” in South African sports is rooted in historical moments where South African teams, notably in cricket and rugby, experienced heartbreaking losses in important matches, especially in international competitions like the Cricket World Cup or Rugby World Cup. These losses, often in the knockout stages or finals, led to the perception that the teams “choked” under pressure.
So, the notorious tale of South Africa is called the “Chokers team” started with the constant failure of tripping at the last hurdle of the World Cup since 1992. This derisive term evidently describes how they fail at winning trophies at the last moment. Basically, choking in sports means the inability to show performance as per expectations.
Every time, the Proteas start the tournament being the favorites but somehow they manage to disappoint everyone by losing a critical match at the end. They take leave from the world cup tournament after being so close to the trophy and their dream remains untouched.
Historically, this has been the case for the last World Cup tournaments. In 2015, South Africa lost to New Zealand in the semi-final match, and in 2019, they could not even qualify for the semis. In spite of being the 4th country in the ICC ODI Ranking, their best result is capped at reaching the ODI World Cup semi-finals in 1992, 1999, 2007, and 2015. For this reason, South Africa has not yet succeeded in bearing the dreaded “Chokers” tag yet.
Is it really the time for South Africa to let go of the “Chokers” tag?
In the coming World Cup season, South Africa has a good chance of earning the “Champion” tag and shaking off the “Chokers” tag. At least South African pacer Kagiso Rabada believes so. He explained that the Proteas could potentially win their maiden World Cup champion title this time. However, they need to be cautious about the drier Indian conditions and utilize the batter-friendly wickets for their purpose. He also mentioned that it is crucial to hold the focus in the jam-packed stadium in India. So, the players need to be aware of this critical factor of managing noise and distractions, as it can be an exciting experience to be able to play in such packed stadiums with countless screaming fans.
Proteas veteran David Miller narrates that the infamous tag will buzz off only when they will actually win the trophy. So, the team should not focus on the negative talks but rather do their best to win the World Cup.
Final Words
It’s important to note that labeling an entire sports team or nation as “chokers” can be unfair, as it overlooks their numerous successes and the challenges that all teams face in high-stakes competitions. South African sports teams have had their share of triumphs as well, and many fans support their teams regardless of past disappointments. The term “chokers” has been a subject of debate and discussion among sports enthusiasts. It has evolved over time as South African teams continue to compete on the international stage.
