Ahead of South Africa’s match against Czechia, Bafana Bafana’s captain Ronwen Williams called for unity and support, both among South Africans and across the African continent.
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Ronwen Williams sets the record straight
His comments follow recent discussions sparked by South Africa’s World Cup campaign, when it was rumoured that he had expressed disappointment that many African fans appeared to support their opponents rather than backing an African representative.
“I didn’t speak anything about Africa and people supporting Mexico. I can remember, I’ve always said that, you know, as Africans, we are one. We support each other,” he reassured the media.
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.” pic.twitter.com/yZe9po3GpT
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 17, 2026
The Bafana Bafana captain urged Africans to “stand for each other” and stand together during this World Cup run.
“Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different,” Williams said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”
Williams call for unity couldn’t have come at a bad time, as the country is dealing with illegal immigrants clashing with the South African police.
He continued to emphasise that the sport should be a unifying force that connects people, rather than one that divides them, reiterating that the team is solely focused on representing the badge with pride and giving their absolute best on the pitch.
Also see: Who scores Bafana’s first goal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Bafana Bafana takes on Czechia
The team is looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2-0 loss to Mexico in their opening match, which also saw key players Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane suspended due to red cards.
The next match for Bafana Bafana is against Czechia (Czech Republic) at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, USA, at 6pm.
MATCHDAY! 🇿🇦
The PSL proudly stands behind @BafanaBafana as they face Czechia in their second Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/yVsmMv9dw2
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) June 18, 2026
Also see: Bafana vs Mexico biggest World Cup opener since 2010
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