Bafana Bafana captain says there’s been a major paradigm shift within the squad which has been developed by head coach Hugo Broos and positive results.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medalists secured their place at AFCON 2025 as group winners and are in pole position to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with their fate solely in their own hands after four games.
Ahead of facing Lesotho tomorrow and Benin on Tuesday, six points could go a long way and stamping their authority in Group C and reflecting on how the squad have managed to turn things around as Broos arrived prior to a failed 2021 AFCON qualification campaign, the national team captain says it’s down to the team spirit that has emerged in the group.
“The stability, the continuation, the coach has found the right balance and structure, once there’s structure, there’s always room for success,” Williams said about the consistency of results despite not having the same players consistently due to injuries or other factors.
“I think now, everyone wants to play for Bafana Bafana again, when you see players coming in, I don’t know when last… all of us were in camp together on a Sunday or Monday – it used to be in drips and drabs.
“Now you see players, after a game on the first flight out, they can’t wait to get into camp again, so that’s amazing, it shows the team spirit and the brotherhood the coach has built over the last few years, it’s been amazing.
“And it’s probably the reason why we have been so successful, the brotherhood, you can see it – when we’re at our clubs, there’s rivalry, but the moment the whistle blows – it’s hugs, no kisses. Lots of hugs and once it gets to camp, we put on the same hat, where the same badge and it helps us.”
South Africa host Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday afternoon at 18h00.
