FIFA WORLD CUP | In response to the online criticism and backlash, Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has urged football fans to unite in the globe, saying, "Let's leave politics to politicians and play football."
Ronwen Williams, the goalkeeper and captain of South Africa, says Africans have to support each other “in good and bad moments” and “leave politics to politicians”.
Williams spoke at the press conference ahead of South Africa’s second game in Group A against the Czech Republic at the 2026 World Cup.
He was reacting to online trolling and banter from other African aimed at the Bafana Bafana after their loss to Mexico in the opening match of the competition.
The lack of support for South Africa is a reflection of growing anger at the xenophobic attacks against other black Africans in the country.
Williams said he was a target of fabricated quotes criticising other Africans for not supporting his country during the Mexico match.
He added that the backlash from the false reports “does hurt” because “players are human beings as well”.
The Bafana Bafana captain then added that every African country has “politics” it is dealing with back home, but the continent must learn to set aside those and unite on the global stage.
“I’ve been a target over the last few days about things that I haven’t said. I didn’t speak anything about Africa and people supporting Mexico,” Williams said.
“I can remember, I’ve always said that, you know, as Africa, we are one, we support each other, you know, in good and bad moments, we’ve all got our own politics, we’ve got our own problems, our own fights that we deal with, you know, back home, you know, every country does, you know.”
“So, I mean, I don’t know where it stemmed from, and it does hurt, you know, because like I’ve mentioned, I’ve been attacked, obviously my country as well, for things that are going on back home and, you know, I’ve always said, you know, players are human beings as well.”
Bafana Bafana will face the Czech Republic on Thursday at 5 pm Nigerian time. Both teams are without a point in the competition after losing their opening matches.
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