Bafana Bafana touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday to a sea of jubilant supporters celebrating the team’s best-ever World Cup performance.
Hundreds of fans gathered at the airport to welcome home the national side, who made history by reaching the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
The team’s campaign ended on Sunday with a 1-0 defeat to tournament co-hosts Canada in the round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium, but the loss did little to dampen spirits back home.
Captain Ronwen Williams addressed the media in Johannesburg, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support the team received throughout the tournament.
“Thank you everyone for your support and for this incredible welcome. To experience the unity of the country at a moment like this is amazing,” Williams said.
“The prayers, the support and all the well wishes that were sent our way meant so much to us as a team. We went out there carrying the support, love and belief of millions of South Africans.”
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The goalkeeper said the team was proud of what they achieved under coach Hugo Broos.
“It’s been a wonderful journey. When we look back at how far we’ve come as a team, especially under Coach Hugo Broos, we can be proud. This achievement at the World Cup is the cherry on top because we’ve been doing excellent work for a long time,” Williams said.
Broos said reaching the second round was the goal from the start and described the accomplishment as historic for South African football.
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“It was not easy, but we made it. It is historic for South African football that the team reached the second round of the World Cup, and that was our goal from the beginning. We worked hard. It was not easy, but we succeeded,” the Belgian coach said.
He added that the World Cup experience would serve the team well as they prepare for future tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
“When you’re competing at that level, you learn a lot, and you learn quickly. I think that’s exactly what happened to us at this World Cup,” Broos said.
The coach believes that if South Africa can maintain this level and qualify for the 2030 World Cup, it will show how far the country’s football has progressed.
