South Africa national soccer team, Bafana Bafana Coach Hugo Broos says the team gave it their all at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.
The team came back to a heroes’ welcome earlier on Wednesday morning, with crowds of fans and politicians waiting for them at OR International Airport.
Broos has won the praise and admiration of soccer fans, after ruffling feathers at the start to his tenure, due to his seemingly brash opinions on the country’s footballing abilities and controversial team selection methods.
He says that he is proud of his team.
Broos says, “We played good games, we saw that more and more, we got more support from the country. I’m very proud of this team, I said it already a few days ago, this is a fantastic team, and it’s not only 23- football players, its 23- friends – the way they treat each other, the way they act with each other on the pitch.”
Ronwen Williams
Bafana Captain and Goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams returned to roaring cheers by crowds who celebrated the senior football teams.
Williams emerged the star goalie of the tournament, bagging the best goalkeeper in the competition award, with the team also winning the fair play trophy.
He says the team was proud to unite the country.
“I feel extremely proud, we’re just happy that we can inspire and unite our country and our people. To see this, it is amazing, and the small opportunity we get as footballers to unite our country. We’re happy, we’re proud, and thanks so much for the support, we saw each and every message, even though you guys were far, we felt the love, we felt the support. Let’s keep it like this, let’s keep going, let’s keep growing from strength to strength.”
Fans welcome home bronze-medalists Bafana Bafana at OR Tambo International:
