Xulu – ‘We have to go and fight’

Bafana Bafana vice-captain Siyanda Xulu says there can be no excuses about the long journey to Ethiopia, or the hostile conditions that South Africa are likely to face, when they take on the East African nation at the Bahir Dar Stadium on Saturday in a 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier.

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The Group G qualifier is being hosted by Ethiopia in Bahir Dar, some 500 kms north of Addis Ababa, and Bafana finally arrived there on a charter plane on Friday morning. There is little doubt that Ethiopia have moved the game to this remote venue to make life that little bit more uncomfortable for Hugo Broos’ side, but Xulu is not having any complaints about the travel or the facilities laid out for the South African team.

“Travelling takes a lot of toll out of the body, but it is something we cannot complain about now, we know the task at hand,” said Xulu, who is the only overseas-based player in the Bafana squad.

“The facilities, the travelling, that isn’t the idea that we must have in our heads. We have to go and fight, it is part and parcel of the job. Even now, we landed at around 8, had breakfast and immediately had to train, but you can’t think about that, you have to do what you are here for.”

The well-travelled former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs defender is well aware that conditions on most of the rest of the continent simply cannot compare to South Africa.

“We have to forget about the facilities, it is never the same as South Africa, we have some of the best hotels and pitches in the world, we always make sure other countries are comfortable, and that is never the case when we travel, the guys know this, it is never to our advantage,” added Xulu.

The 29 year-old’s own journey to finally being a mainstay of the South African defence has also been long. Despite often being touted as one of the best defenders in the country, Xulu had not played for Bafana in a competitive match outside of the Cosafa Cup, until Broos picked him in the opening Group G qualifier in Zimbabwe.

The Hapoel Tel Aviv central defender has gone on to help keep two clean sheets against the Warriors and Ghana, with four points from those two games putting South Africa on top of Group G.

A victory today, and against the same opponent on Tuesday at FNB Stadium, would put Bafana in a great position to win the group and make it to the final round of qualifying for Qatar 2022.

“I have always mentioned that the national team is one piece of the puzzle still missing in my career. It is for me to take each game as it comes, I am experienced now, and confident to always make sure I perform for my country,” added Xulu.

“I want my name in there! (for Qatar 2022). We believe we can make it it is just for us to realise that dream.”