Bafana duo let down by lack of support for AFCON-bound team

Ahead of hosting Morocco in an AFCON qualifier on Saturday, the players say they’ve earned more credit and backing considering their ticket to the tournament in Ivory Coast next year has been sealed.

Skipper Williams was the first to react.

"Ya, obviously it's a bit disappointing because having been on the other side a few years ago and got a lot of criticism and rightfully so when we didn't qualify. Now, that we did qualify you don't see any hype about us. It's a bit sad and it's a bit disappointing," he said.

"Support the national team, support us through thick and thin, we need everyone's support, we can't do it on our own."

Over 18 000 general tickets had been sold at the weekend for FNB Stadium, which can be viewed as substandard given the profile of the match.

A team on their way to the continental competition should be attracting better crowds according to Williams.

"When we play these teams away, they make it so difficult for us. Once we play at home, we don't see the numbers and we don't see the true support that one would hope we'd get. I'd like to urge the fans to come out and get behind the team, you can see there's something good growing amongst us."

His teammate Xulu also joined the chorus, insisting the criticism was justified when Bafana failed to qualify for previous AFCON tournaments.

But things have changed under coach Hugo Broos.

"It's really disappointing for South Africans not to appreciate the kind of work that the coach has done for the past two years. I was with the group that didn't qualify for AFCON three years ago and I remember the hammering," Xulu said.