Williams: I don’t feel the love all the time
As they go into the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams says he doesn’t feel they have the solid backing of South Africans.
The 34th edition of the Afcon, hosted by Ivory Coast, kicks off with the home side facing Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan on Saturday. Bafana will get their campaign on the road against Mali in Korhogo on Tuesday.
Due to a series of disappointing results, accompanied by failures to qualify for major tournaments over the years, Bafana’s stock has declined and the national team has not enjoyed strong support from the public.
Williams said he understands why support is intermittent, but he urged locals to rally behind the team in the tournament.
“Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not. I don’t feel the love all the time, but I can understand why as well,” Williams said. “It’s because we haven’t done well for the longest time.
“So, we need to look at ourselves and say, ‘in the past two years we have done extremely well and we are in Afcon now; can we be consistent?’. Once we have consistency the support will come back.
“But in saying that, one needs to support the team in the same way you support your family — in good and bad times. I urge the fans, the country, to get behind us because there’s a good thing going now. There’s going to be obstacles, ups and downs, but continue believing in us, pushing us to get better so we can find the consistency we need.”
Williams, who missed the final preparation match against Lesotho on Wednesday, spoke of the niggling injury that sidelined* him. “It’s just a niggle that I got on my knee. It’s something that recurs when I have played a lot of games and it’s just something I have been managing over the past year or so,” Williams said.
“It’s nothing serious, it’s just something that I need to manage and look after. I’ve been getting wonderful treatment in camp since I got here. So, I will be on the pitch in no time.”
● Bafana wrapped up the SA leg of their preparations for Afcon with a 0-0 draw against Lesotho at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday.
The preparation match followed a four-day camp in Stellenbosch and Bafana fly out to Ivory Coast on Thursday as one of the tournament underdogs.
ONE NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE TEAM IN THE SAME WAY YOU SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY — IN GOOD AND BAD TIMES
Ronwen Williams Bafana Bafana captain