Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is calling on South African fans to turn out in force at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday for the clash with Kenya, where the Bafana are chasing nine points out of nine in the CAN 2027 qualifiers.
South Africa host Kenya on Friday at the Orlando Amstel Arena, kick-off 18:00, in Group D of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Ahead of the match, Ronwen Williams made a direct appeal to the supporters: the Bafana goalkeeper and captain wants to see the stands full, The Citizen reports.
The stakes are simple for head coach Pitso Mosimane and his team: a third win in three matches, meaning nine points out of nine in Group D. The Bafana have already beaten Guinea and then Eritrea in their first two qualifying matches.
“Come early, get behind the boys”
“It is always important that we have our supporters and have a packed stadium. So come early, get behind the boys and show your love and support,” Williams told The Citizen. The goalkeeper is drawing on a recent memory: in the last home match against Guinea, with the score at 1-1 and twenty minutes left, it was the crowd, he says, that drove the team to victory.
“In the last match (at home) against Guinea, there were 20 minutes left and it was 1-1. But the crowd kept pushing us and we got the job done,” he added. The message is clear: the Orlando Amstel Arena must make its weight felt in a fixture that could bring the Bafana a little closer to a continental finals.
Mbokazi and Foster return
Williams also welcomed the returns of defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and forward Lyle Foster, both recalled for the first time since the World Cup, according to Soccer Laduma. “Having Mbokazi back and Lyle back, it’s amazing. They will obviously strengthen us and they will bring their quality and competition,” the captain said.
These two players add depth to a squad already high on confidence, intensifying the competition for places ahead of this third match.
Nine points in their sights
Top of Group D after two wins, South Africa host an opponent already assured of their place: Kenya qualify automatically as co-hosts of CAN 2027, according to Apex Football.
Pitso Mosimane has warned his players against underestimating Kenya, who are coached by his former striker Benni McCarthy, the Harambee Stars head coach.