Ronwen Williams, captain of Bafana Bafana, has shared crucial insights on the lessons his team has learned from past encounters with Rwanda, which will assist them in securing all three points at Mbombela on Tuesday.
Bafana Bafana is set to face the team currently sitting at the bottom of Group C, with the essential goal of gaining all three points if they wish to compete in the upcoming World Cup.
“We acknowledge the difficulties they presented in our last match, and that fuels our motivation for tomorrow’s game,” remarked Williams.
The prior meeting between South Africa and the East African team took place on November 21, 2023, in Kigali, resulting in a two-nil loss for the visitors.
The match occurred under challenging conditions, with water pooling on the field, impacting the ball’s movement. Rwanda capitalized on these conditions, especially during their scoring chances. Additionally, Siyanda Xulu and Nkosinathi Sibisi did not perform well that day.
“The players understand how tough that match was. We may have been the only team to play on that field, and it’s clear we shouldn’t have,” the captain remarked.
Williams is confident that those who traveled to Kigali can rectify their errors at Mbombela, as the stakes are high.
“For me, the main focus remains on winning our match and honing our performance,” Williams emphasized.
A victory for Nigeria against Benin in Uyo could keep South Africa’s World Cup hopes alive or even turn them into reality.
“We can’t influence what happens in Nigeria; our focus must be entirely on our game because Rwanda will not make it easy for us,” Williams reiterated.
The home supporters will be hopeful for their team to remain concentrated on the upcoming challenge, even as thoughts about the situation in Nigeria may linger.
