With Thulani Hlatshwayo’s departure from the national team, the coaches were forced to find a new captain.
Ronwen Williams of Supersport United has been named Bafana Bafana captain for Thursday’s international friendly against Uganda at the Orlando Stadium.
Williams will be deputized for the match by Helman Mkhalele, the left-wed Innocent Maela from Orlando, who is newly appointed South Africa Head Trainer Hugo Broos, who receives a second coronavirus jab in Belgium, while Cedomir Janevski’s first assistant coach is unavailable due to positive Covid-19 tests.
It is unclear whether Pirates defender Thulani Hlatshwayo permanently lost the bracelet in the Uganda match.
Williams, on the other hand, is one of the longest-serving Bafana players and has shown enough leadership as SuperSport captain to be retained as Bafana captain beyond Uganda.
Ronwen Williams: Comments
“Yes, we have decided, we have decided that he [Williams] is going to be the captain and also he will be seconded by Innocent Maela,”
“But you know what I said to the players? I said you are all captains, you know you are the ones who should be deciding, you know, the future or deciding what should be happening on the field of play. So all of them need to play that role. But yes, of course, we need to have someone who will be wearing that armband.”
Said Mkhalele according to iDisky Times.
Williams agreed to lead the team on Thursday, but admits it will be a difficult task.
Over the years, he has proven to be a reliable guardsman, claiming Itumeleng Khune’s number one spot and benching the tried and tested duo of Darren Keet and Wayne Sandilands.
After the retirement of former coach Molefi Ntseki at the end of March, the player from SuperSport leads the new Bafana Bafana squad at the start of the Hugo Broos era.
Broos selected younger players but insists that the experienced players he did not select will not be substituted for this friendly game.
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