The national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, has already left for their away and home matches against Ethiopia and has the blessings of the South African Football Association (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan.
The away leg will be played on October 9 at Bahir Dar Stadium at 15:00. The return leg will be played at FNB Stadium on October 12 at 18:00.
The Bafana Bafana 23 man squad was hand-picked by coach Hugo Broos and his assistants to face off against Ethiopia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier Qatar 2022 clash.
Making the squad is local footballer, Ethan Brooks, who hails from the South.
“I’m honoured and excited to get another national call up. There are a few new players compared to the last camp, but the mood has not changed. It is upbeat and positive,” said Brooks in an interview with SAFA.net.
For him playing soccer is second nature and there is nothing else he would rather be doing, but what he makes look like a breeze in the midfield is not easy.
He wants to raise the bar, game after game.
“I look back at my performances and I want to contribute with goals and assists, that is what I’m looking at improving during the next World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia,” said Brooks.
From club to country, the 20-year-old in recent weeks has gone through the hands of several coaches.
At his club TS Galaxy it was Owen Da Gama, followed by Shaun Bartlett his assistant who took over the reign’s for a short stint till Sead Ramovic was announced as the head coach, and the trio, Hugo Broos, Cedomir Janevski and Helman Mkhalele at the national level.
“Every coach has contributed to my career. Every single one has left an indelible mark on me and my style of football now and for the future of my football career.
“It is, however, challenging as I need to adapt to their styles to give them what they need,” said Brooks.
It is no coincidence that with a Belgian coach at the helm of the national team that Brooks has his sights set on moving to either Belgium, Spain or Italy to play for an overseas-based club.
For now, he is dreaming big and playing his heart out.
If headlines on the highways with his name on is anything to go by, it seems like only a matter of time till his dreams become reality.
According to the president, it is a mammoth task and one that should not be taken for granted, and the association has made every effort to ensure that the team travel safely there and back.
“As SAFA we have decided to do our best so that the team delivers their best. They’ll be chartered to Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and leave immediately after the match back home, for them to focus on the job at hand.”
The Bafana Bafana team will also make history. They’ll be the first team to play in front of spectators after an 18-month drought due to Covid-19.
“We had a great meeting with the Department of Health and they agreed that we can go ahead.”
