Upbeat Bafana ready for crucial week

The national side take on Zimbabwe in their penultimate match at the FNB Stadium on Thursday evening before they jet off to take on the Black Stars of Ghana in their last match in the group on Sunday to close out a hectic week of football.

It’s been a flawless display in the group so far with just the one draw the only blemish on their record from the four matches played so far. That draw was an opening match stalemate against Zimbabwe away so the side will be hoping to rectify that when they face their neighbours at 9pm on Thursday.

Under Hugo Broos Bafana Bafana have been a different team that has played with confidence and purpose and captain Ronwen Williams believes that the current crop of players is different to other squads he’s been a part of in the past.

“This has been the best camp that I have been a part of,” Williams said. “The mood and the vibe in the camp is so good with the positivity and excitement really high amongst the guys.

“This is what coach Broos has said and it’s why he likes working with younger players because they bring that hunger and excitement to the table, and it rubs off on the other guys.

“We are really confident that we can go into the next round, and we are top of the log, something that hasn’t happened in years.

“There is history to be written because we haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 2002 and we’ve got half a foot over the line, so we know the ball is in our court.”

For Williams it’s been a pleasure captaining the side and he’s found the role to be an easy one with a squad of players that are playing as a unit.

“We are a good bunch of players and human beings which is the most important thing.

“The guys are so relaxed and there are no egos or guys thinking they bigger than anyone else, and that’s the main thing for me.

“Coach has made the game plan clear so for it’s just about making the newer guys believe that they deserve to be here,” Williams added.