Mickey Arthur says “it’s sad” after his Pakistan side ended the Proteas’ World Cup dream on Sunday.
He knows the pain all too well having gone through the same thing when his South Africa side crashed out of the 2007 edition at the semifinal stage.
Ottis Gibson's however team will not get that far after five defeats in seven matches means their tournament is over with two games to spare.
And as a “Proteas fan” Mickey is gutted for the team, saying: “I watch South Africa with a real fondness. South Africa are my second team without a doubt and it is sad for me. It’s sad.
“It’s a team that’s just a little bit short on confidence. Every team goes through that.
DESPAIR: Faf du Plessis. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters.
“I think now is a time to just try and get behind those boys.
“They are trying incredibly hard.
"I know what they are going through. It’s tough. It’s really tough where they are.”
The Proteas never got going in England and, like everyone else, reckons the players are low on confidence and things are just falling apart now.
But he believes SA aren’t a bunch of losers, adding: “It happens so quickly.
TALENT: Arthur believes the Proteas are very much talented but are suffering from a lack of confidence. Photo: John Sibley/Reuters.
“You lose a game; you lose another game; it’s a World Cup; media scrutiny; public expectation and then you almost go into sort of survival mode. “We’ve all been there.
“I’m confident that they can [bounce back] because there’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room.”