Broos Discusses World Cup Goals – Sportswire

As Bafana Bafana gears up to take on Lesotho for the World Cup qualifier at New Peter Mokaba Stadium this Friday evening (18:00), coach Hugo Broos has expressed the team’s determination to clinch a spot in next year’s World Cup.

Broos’ squad, ready to compete in a sold-out game against Lesotho, has previously represented South Africa in three World Cup tournaments: 1998, 2002, and 2010, the year South Africa was the host nation.

Despite participating in three World Cups, Bafana has not yet advanced to the knockout stages.

Looking forward to their encounter with Likuena, Broos stressed that the entire team is enthusiastic about qualifying for the World Cup, underscoring that commitment is crucial for achieving this goal.

“What I can assure you is that everyone in this group is dedicated to making it to the World Cup next year,” Broos stated.

“Thus, our motivation has significantly increased; we are also performing at a higher level than two years ago, evolving into a more unified team.

“However, we must remain realistic, acknowledging that a lot of work still lies ahead. No one will give us an easy path, and in the match against Lesotho, even if we don’t emerge victorious, showcasing good football and achieving a draw would still be regarded as a positive result.”

Bafana is actively in pursuit of World Cup qualification, currently sitting in second place with seven points in Group C. The team that finishes at the top of the group will secure automatic qualification, while the second-placed team will have to compete with other second-placed teams from their respective groups.

Moreover, Bafana captain Ronwen Williams highlighted the significant contributions of players like Sphephelo Sithole to the national team’s efforts, despite their injuries.

“We recognize that this is a pivotal week for us; we have two crucial matches ahead,” he commented.

“The atmosphere in the camp is positive. The intensity of training and mindset we’ve displayed in recent days reflect our seriousness.

“Sadly, we have lost some key players to injuries, but this only emphasizes the uniqueness of this group – they’ve all sent encouraging messages, including one from Yaya (Sphephelo) Sithole, wishing us all the best.

“We’ve grown together as a team, and we’re looking forward to the upcoming match. We hope the fans will turn out and provide that extra support, just as they have in recent months.

“I believe this bolsters and reaffirms the unity of our nation. This is a new year; let’s build upon our past performances and elevate Bafana Bafana to new heights.”