Bafana Bafana legend Siphiwe Tshabalala has advised under-fire striker Lyle Foster to use fans’ reaction to fuel himself and perform better in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Foster, 25, has received criticism in national colours from fans lately including his performance in Bafana’s international friendly with Nicaragua last week. The Burnley forward missed an opportunity to score for the World Cup-bound side in the goalless draw by missing a penalty.
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Some fans at the stadium booed Foster who was replaced in the second half of the game while others expressed their frustrations on social media. The player has however received support from his coach Hugo Broos who said even the best players in the world do miss spot kicks.
Meanwhile, Tshabalala the scorer of one of the most famous 2010 Word Cup goals, admitted it’s not nice to go through what Foster is going through however the latter should draw positives and respond on the field at the tournament starting next week in Mexico.
“It’s not nice being booed, but also it requires a different level of intelligence and maturity as well,” the former Kaizer Chiefs man told the media at the squad’s farewell concert over the weekend.
“You can take the positives out of that, you know, you can build up from that. We know you are a good player by virtue of being in the team. You have the quality, and Lyle has the quality.
“I mean in the group I’d say he’s the one that plays at the highest level that plays or played in the EPL, which is ranked number one in the world.
“So he’s got the experience, he’s got the heart. And when you’re being booed, it’s a character building phase or character building period.
“I think he’ll overcome that. I just hope that you know, whenever they boo him, they just wind him up and we see the best of him in the World Cup.”
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