Bafana coach upbeat ahead of match against Ethiopia in front of vaccinated fans

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has credited his players for the way they have responded with the team looking to have improved a lot just a month after his appointment.  

We look forward to playing for fans tomorrow. All 2000 tickets have been sold!!!!!!!! We can’t wait to see you you in the stands! Remember your ID and vaccination certificate. #BafanaPride #FIFAWCQ2022

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 11, 2021

Meanwhile, 2 000 fans will for the first time be allowed in the FNB Stadium since March last year.  

Fans were prohibited from attending sports event as part of measures to prevent spread of coronavirus. Broos is confident the players will play much better in Tuesday’s qualifier against Ethiopia playing at home in front of their fans which will be a motivation.   

Bafana Bafana’s recent results, especially the victory against Ghana and Saturday’s 3-1 win over Ethiopia have made even the team’s staunchest critic believe the team might qualify for the FIFA World Cup. 

The team seems to have a new found fighting spirit which made it secure a positive and impressive result away in Ethiopia on Saturday.  

But the Belgian coach has refused to take the credit saying the players’ hard work is paying off.   

The coach says he expects the players to play even better at home as the pitch the team played on against Ethiopia wasn’t good.  

Meanwhile, 2 000 tickets have been made available for fully-vaccinated fans as part of SAFA and the Sport Ministry’s pilot project to see if fans can be allowed in sporting events. 

Almost half of the tickets were already taken up by five o’clock on Monday afternoon just an hour after applications were opened on the SAFA website.  

Bafana coach says the presence of fans will be strange as football in the country has been played without fans for some time. 

But he says it will be motivation for the players and should help them when things aren’t going well for it during the match.  

Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium will kick off at six o’clock in the evening. 

It’s all systems go for the Return of Fans to the Stadium https://t.co/apXesEX3y5

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 11, 2021