Latest update on Rowen Williams’ injury

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has provided the latest update on the injury of captain Ronwen Williams ahead of the Ivory Coast tie.

Williams was ruled out of last week’s international friendly clash against Eswatini at the FNB Stadium. 

The Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper watched his side play out a 0-0 draw with the neighbours, Eswatini, from the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

AmaZulu goalie Veli Mothwa was the man who started in between the sticks against Eswatini last Friday. 

Broos had revealed that they knew Williams wouldn’t be ready for the Eswatini friendly match from the day the players assembled for camp in Johannesburg last Monday. 

South Africa will take on Ivory Coast on Tuesday, 17 October on their own turf. The kick-off is set for 9pm.

Bafana jetted off to Ivory Coast on Saturday, 14 October 2023 to face the Elephants. This friendly match is part of Bafana’s preparations for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to take place in November 2023.

LATEST ON RONWEN WILLIAMS’ INJURY 

Broos confirmed that the skipper, Williams, will start with the game tomorrow. The coach stated that the goal-minder would be ready to play, as he’s cleared by the team’s doctor.

“Yes [he will start against Ivory Coast], there is no doubt. There should be something happening tonight in the last training,” Broos told SAFA’s media department. 

“But we play with Ronwen again in the goals that’s why we kept him with us going into this game.”

The Belgian mentor divulged that the team’s doctor Thabo Maleka assured them that the goalie would be ready to play. 

“We spoke with the doctor and he promised us that Ronwen will be ready for the game on Tuesday. So, I think we made the right choice,” he added.

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