South Africa sports minister warns Proteas not to become 'bunch of losers' at World Cup

Sydney: South Africa cricket team got a resounding send-off as they left home for Australia on Wednesday, but comments from the country's Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula might have put the squad in just a wee bit of pressure.

Mbalula reportedly told the squad that they don't want them in the World Cup to add numbers and just become a bunch of losers, as the team left for Australia, who will host the coveted tournament along with New Zealand.

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Mbalula told the South African team that they are not going to be playing with robots, they would be playing with people, adding that they are the special ones, they are the chosen ones, and it does not mean that they are irreplaceable but insisted that all of them are capable of doing the duty for South Africa, News.com.au reported.

It is now or never. South Africa your time has arrived to conquer. - @MbalulaFikile pic.twitter.com/0DmMnOC9I7

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 4, 2015

In you flows the blood of African warriors. - @MbalulaFikile #ProteasSendOff #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/hSx1GqBLsz

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 4, 2015

Mbalula, who was given the day off from a government strategy meeting to deliver president Jacob Zuma 's message to the team, then started rehashing some of the country's World Cup low points.

South Africa has suffered a string of defeats in one-dayers, including being controversially knocked out of the 1992 World Cup by an outdated revised total system, losing to New Zealand in the quarterfinals in 2011 and capitulating against Australia in the 1999 semifinal.

Mbalula managed to reference them all, before making some bizarre comments about who the team would be playing against in Australia. He said that they should forget about 1992, forget about what happened in Bangladesh, adding that when Allan Donald and Lance Klusener could not get them over the line.

Mbalula told AB de Villiers and his bunch of winners that they are not playing against cows, they are not playing against donkeys, adding that they shouldn't undermine any of them and go and win the World Cup for them.

I've got no doubt that AB and the team will compete. They have the capability to bring this World Cup home. pic.twitter.com/kEvu9gI7W7

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 4, 2015