South Africa [Images] are "chokers" and continue to provide evidence that the tag is not given to them without reason, although skipper Graeme Smith [Images] begs to differ.

For all the right words, sane and sanguine-thinking and public posturing, skipper Smith did let it slip when he conceded his side would be "devastated" by Friday's seven-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the first semi-final of the Twenty20 [Images] World Cup.

This crushing sense of so many reverses -- 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups; the roadblocks of the Champions Trophy [Images] and now two successive ICC [Images] World Twenty20s -- must have taken a toll on the Proteas cricketers' psyche.

Other occasions too come to mind in an instant: losing the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000; two years later losing to India in the semi-finals from an astonishing position and then semi-finalists again in 2006 edition of the ICC Knock-out Trophy.

Words alone don't provide cure -- correctives do; but South Africa, since its readmission into the game in early 90s, has only been bridesmaid... or worse.

Choking, according to a research, comes from thinking too much. It causes a loss of instinct and panic sets in.

It happens when a sportsman experiences spasms of doubt and is unable to focus.

Negative thoughts unleash anxiety and a player loses his ability to perform under pressure.

The result is disaster.

The inclusion of former England [Images] international and sports psychologist Jeremy Snape in the South African team's support staff two years ago had a specific purpose -- it was to deal and then flush out the negative psychosis which grips the Proteas players in moments of crisis.

When South Africa could chase down a 400-plus target in Perth or when they won the Test series Down Under for the first time early this year, it appeared Snape had done the catharsis for South Africa.

Similar was the case in Pakistan where a 2-2 deadlock was turned into a 3-2 scoreline.

It then chased down 281 against England and 414 against Australia [Images] at WACA [Images].

The extraordinary WACA run-chase was completed by two youngest batsmen in the team, AB de Villiers [Images] and JP Duminy [Images].

It was believed the younger lot don't carry the hangover.

Dale Steyn [Images] and Morkel brothers -- Albie and Morne -- only know how to win.

Before the defeat at the hands of Australia early this year, most in the team never tasted a series loss in their career.

Instead, they knew only of winning in Pakistan, England and Australia.

But the core group of South Africa team -- Herschelle Gibbs [Images], Jacques Kallis [Images], Mark Boucher [Images] and captain Smith -- remain the same as of old and crisis still show them up.

The Proteas still lose, and that word "chokers" is plastered all over again.