Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has thanked the boisterous Free State Stadium crowd following their impressive 3-1 win over neighbours Zimbabwe on Tuesday night.
The win meant that South Africa leapfrogged the standings and now sit on number two level on seven points with Rwanda, who sit on top with a better goal difference.
Bafana hosted Zimbabwe in their Group C 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier match. This took place in front of an almost sold-out Free State Stadium crowd in Bloemfontein. Over 27,000 spectators came out to witness their national team outclass the Warriors.
Hopes for more games at venue
After the match, an elated broos expressed his delight of playing in front of a packed stadium. He added that he hopes Bafana will play more games in the “City of Roses” once again.
“An important victory. I’m also happy having played here in the stadium with a fantastic crowd. You see what a crowd can do,” Broos said.
“They are behind the players. [The players] have difficult moments, but when you have a crowd like this, you go over the limit. And we saw the second half, more and more we got confidence. More and more we played better, so… a fantastic evening.
“This public is very grateful and, this is something that makes me very happy.
“After the game, they wanted to see us back. They are good supporters, and I think for the future we must think about playing more games here in this stadium. Because tonight it was fantastic.
Grateful to the supportive crowd
“We didn’t, since I’m here, and that’s three years. I never had an atmosphere like today in this stadium. So, you can make good performances when you have a public like this.”
Bafana opened the scoring as early as 30 seconds into the game through Stellenbosch FC striker Iqraam Rayners. He pounced on a defensive error.
The visitors would, however, equalise one minute later. This when forward Tawanda Chirewa fired past Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams on the near post.
Bafana had the last say and scored two goals in the second half through substitute Thapelo Morena.
South Africa will play their next World Cup qualifier on March 17 next year. They will play against another neighboring country Lesotho at a venue that is yet to be confirmed.
