New Bafana captain ready for challenge
THULANI Hlatshwayo is not intimidated by being made Stuart Baxter’s Bafana Bafana captain, or meeting Nigeria away in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in his first outing as permanent skipper when leadership on the field will be crucial.
As captain and centreback for newly crowned Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits‚ “Tyson” never shirks a challenge and dishes them out with an at times bone- crushing intensity.
It seems Bafana’s new captain will take to that task with the same relish – not talking so much‚ but leading by example.
Hlatshwayo has captained Bafana before‚ under the strange rotation policy of previous coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba.
He is not intimidated by being given the armband full-time this week by Baxter.
“I’m honoured‚” he said at Bafana’s training session at the FNB Stadium yesterday ahead of Saturday’s opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria in Uyo.
“It’s something that I’m familiar with. I’m the captain at Wits‚ so it’s an environment that I know.
“I’m up for the job. I’m a guy who likes to compete.”
Hlatshwayo said Bafana would not be intimidated by the home crowd in Uyo‚ where SA held a 2-0 lead thanks to a Tokelo Rantie brace in a 2015 Nations Cup qualifier in November 2014‚ before late goals saw the Super Eagles earn a 2-2 draw.
The new Bafana captain‚ though‚ admitted that Nigeria‚ who preserved their unbeaten record in competitive matches against Bafana with that draw‚ would be on the rebound having been denied a place at Afcon 2015 by SA in those qualifiers.
“We will not [be intimidated]. We played Nigeria in Nigeria. We did well‚” he said.