Football
Exclusive: 1996 Legend Shaun Bartlett On Bafana Setting Their Sights On Silverware
Shaun Bartlett shares exclusive insights on Bafana Bafana's Afcon aspirations, Hugo Broos' impact, Ronwen Williams' milestone, and Kaizer Chiefs' current form. Can South African football reclaim its glory?
Image Credit:Ian Walton/Getty Images
Former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett is confident his national team will sail through the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, and the team should actually set their sights much higher than simply appearing at the African showpiece event next year.
Bafana need just two points from their two remaining matches to book their spot at Afcon next year. First up they will face Uganda away on Friday, before their final qualifier clash four days later at home against South Sudan in Cape Town.
“I think obviously we were hoping they could do it in the last game. Had they won that game they would have qualified,” Bartlett told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview.
“So we've got two games left, one home and away. And two points is needed but I think it's important that we get that victory as quickly as possible.”
I'm confident also that we will qualify for both tournaments, the World Cup and Afcon. But I think we need to take it one step further and not settle for the bronze and silver but go all the way for the gold, especially in the Afcon.
Shaun Bartlett
Hugo Broos has been a revelation
Since taking over the reigns at Bafana as coach in 2021, Hugo Broos has sparked excitement about the national team that had been dwindling. In fact, the last time Bafana qualified for a Fifa World Cup dates back to the 2002 edition.
In comparison to the world conquering Springboks and highly competitive Proteas cricket teams, Bafana has battled to achieve anything of significance since they won the 1996 Afcon title as hosts. That was until they finished third at Afcon earlier this year.
Bartlett was a part of that 1996 team, and is in a good position to give an assessment of Broos.
“He’s a very experienced coach. I think he's been around the block for some time. He's been consistent in his team selection which is good.
“And also the way they play. They don't really change. Maybe at times [they are] a little bit predictable, but hopefully I think he will analyse also what he can do better with the team to see if we can go all the way.”
“But I think the fact that we were unbeaten for so many games, it shows obviously there's progress and there's definitely a lot of improvement.”
Ronwen Williams charting a path for African football
Though star Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Ronwen Williams missed out on winning the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards last month, the fact that he was nominated could be a watershed moment, believed Bartlett.
“It's great for South Africa and for Africa as a continent because I don't think we've had that before.”
“To have someone like Ronwen to be recognised, it shows what he achieved in the Afcon especially, saving those four penalties.
He's been consistent in his display and he's a true leader
Shaun Bartlett
A strong Kaizer Chiefs is good for SA football
As a former Kaizer Chiefs player, Bartlett was encouraged by the strong start the AmaKhosi made to the current SA Premiership season with two wins in a row under new coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Since then they have lost two and drawn one, but after a 10th place finish last term there was renewed optimism for the most popular team in SA fhttps://www.sportsboom.com/football/ootball.
“I think it's very important for a strong Chiefs to compete in the league. It's just unfortunate that obviously they had this little blip in the season so far,” Bartlett told SportsBoom.com.
“I think they have a decent enough squad in order to compete. Maybe just mentally some of those players have a bit of a block as to really achieving what they're supposed to.
“I think that for me that is more concerning than the quality of the players. You've got to be consistent in your play. Unfortunately, we haven't seen much of that. With Kaizer Chiefs they give you a little bit of hope, and then they take it away again.”
Michael Sherman is an experienced sports journalist in South Africa with 15 years in the industry. Michael began his journey in sports journalism for the SA Press Association (Sapa) during the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, before covering the local Premier Soccer League for three seasons and later specialising in cricket and golf.