Staff Reporter.
Hugo Broos has named a new Bafana Bafana captain and vice-captain ahead of South Africa’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.
The South African national football team will have a new leadership group when the nation embarks on its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Zimbabwe after coach Hugo Broos announced his new captain on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match, the Belgian tactician confirmed SuperSport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams as the new Bafana Bafana captain, with star forward Percy Tau promoted to the vice-captain’s role.
“It is no coincidence that Ronwen and Percy are here with me,” Broos said. “As you know, we had to choose a new captain so I have decided to have Ronwen as our captain, and Percy as second [vice-captain].
“First of all, I think Ronwen is a personality, he is a man who has experience. He is also a man who can communicate, which is very important, and on the other side you have Percy, who is a bit more quiet but has experience in several European teams and I think he has the respect of the locker room.
Williams and Tau’s respective appointments follow Thulani Hlatshwayo’s continued absence from the national team and marks a new era ahead of the country’s upcoming qualifiers against neighbours Zimbabwe and Ghana.
Broos will be hoping that injuries or medical issues will not hit his team ahead of the crucial games.
Already, Bafana Bafana have lost Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mothobi Mvala due to injury.
Mavala did not make Sundowns’ trip to Golden Arrows for last weekend’s MTN8 semi-final clash.
Bafana Bafana have been drawn alongside the pair and Ethiopia in Group G and get their campaign underway on Friday in Harare against the Warriors, before returning to South Africa for a clash against the Black Stars three days later.