Former Bafana Bafana Africa Cup winning captain, Neil Tovey has called on South Africans to rally behind the country ahead of the 2013 Orange Afcon taking place on home soil during the next three weeks (19 January to 10 February 2013). The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 19 January at the National Stadium starting at 16:00 with Bafana Bafana tackling Cape Verde at 18:00.

The former Kaizer Chiefs captain remains the most successful captain of Bafana Bafana having lifted the Africa Cup of Nations back in 1996.

Tovey has gone on record to describe the moment as one of his highlights in his 20 year football career; “It was one of my greatest moments in football, the then President Nelson Mandela presented me with a trophy. When I look at that moment 17 years after, it brings a great feeling.

“We need to go all out and support the national team. We are playing at home and there should be no reason for us not to proceed to the knockout stages of the tournament and when you get there anything is possible,” he told kaizerchiefs.com.

Bafana Bafana failed to win their preparations games ahead of the tournament losing against Norway and drawing against Algeria; “The area of concern for me is scoring goals. We need to work on that and midfielders should support the strikers. The duty to score goals cannot only be left only to strikers.

Tovey continued to say that people should not read much from the past two games; “No Coach wants to give away his tactics and line up before the tournament kicks off.

Tovey who together with another legend Doctor Khumalo were Chiefs representatives in the Class of 96 paid tribute to Kaizer Chiefs for having seven players representing the Nation.

“Credit should go to Kaizer Chiefs and their Technical Team. They have done well thus far and are on top of the league. It is a big boost for the side. It should auger well for the plans of the Club going forward.

‘Mokoko’ as Tovey is affectionately known in football circles wished Bafana Bafana all the best during the tournament “Stay calm, relax and enjoy the tournament the Nation is behind you,” added Tovey the three times league title winner with the Glamour Boys during the decade he spent in Naturena.