‘I believe in fairytales’ – Williams confident as Bafana Bafana prepare for Mbombela qualifier
Bafana Bafana’s draw against Zimbabwe in Durban helped Benin develop a two-point lead in Group C, adding extreme importance to the clash at Mbombela Stadium.
The feeling among Bafana Bafana players remains positive ahead of their final World Cup qualifier against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium, according to captain Ronwen Williams.
A lot is still at stake for Bafana Bafana during FIFA World Cup qualification match in the Mpumalanga capital tomorrow, October 14. A win for South Africa, combined with a loss for Benin against Nigeria, would secure qualification. If Bafana Bafana wins and Benin draws with Nigeria, the situation would come down to some serious mathematics.
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Despite this and wishing they were in a better position going into the Rwanda clash, Williams and his charges remain firmly focused on the task at hand, with a strong sense of belief among the players. “The boys are ready to get the job done. There’s no need to doubt the quality that we have in the team. We’ll go out tomorrow with the same belief, the same faith that we’ve had over the last few years,” he said during a press conference on Monday, October 13.
“Yes, it [the Zimbabwe draw] was a setback, but we shouldn’t forget what we’ve done the last few years, we’ve come on in leaps and bounds.”
Williams also believes that Bafana Bafana will go into the Rwanda game without trying to change much in their approach. “We still believe in the team that we’ve got, that it’s all to play for, and that we can make history tomorrow – you can sense that inside the team and the players,” he said. “Tomorrow you’ll see the fighting spirit from the team, we’ll leave it all out on the field.”
Bafana Bafana will look to not get caught up in putting their focus anywhere other than on the field in Mbombela. “We can’t control what happens in Nigeria. The most important factor is for us to win our game,” Williams added, saying he’ll be leading the charge in the dressing room’s belief. “I believe in fairytales, so we’ll go out tomorrow with the same mindset.”
Bafana Bafana’s record at Mbombela Stadium bodes well, as the national team has yet to lose here. With six wins and four draws from 10 matches, fans have reason to feel optimistic ahead of Tuesday, October 14, when the match kicks off at 18:00.
Tickets are still available for the Bafana Bafana vs Rwanda clash, where fans could witness South Africa secure World Cup qualification for the first time in 23 years. They can be purchased via Ticketpro.
