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Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has responded to a surge of online criticism, asserting that he has been unjustly singled out due to false allegations concerning insufficient continental support during South Africa’s opening match against Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Williams allegedly voiced unhappiness with what he described as a lack of support from fellow African nations following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener last Thursday.
In a video released by the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday, the national team captain expressed severe disappointment with how his remarks were twisted in the aftermath of the defeat.
He said, “I’ve been a target over the last few days about things that I haven’t said. I didn’t speak anything about Africa and people supporting Mexico. I can remember, I’ve always said that, as Africa, we are one, we support each other.”
Williams acknowledged that national team players are affected by the narratives constantly directed at them, emphasising that squad members want to stay insulated from non-sporting disputes.
“You know, in good and bad moments, we’ve all got our own politics, we’ve got our own problems, our own fights that we deal with back home,” he continued.
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“Every country does. So, I mean, I don’t know where it stemmed from, and it does hurt, you know, because like I’ve mentioned, I’ve been attacked, obviously, my country as well, for things that are going on back home.
“And I’ve always said players are human beings as well. We go through it, and for us, sometimes it gets a lot. You want to focus on doing your job, which is being a footballer, but then, you know, you get involved in politics, and you don’t want to be in that space.”
Despite the personal distress caused by the viral claims, the Bafana captain remains optimistic about the unique power of football to transcend geopolitical divides, highlighting the diverse mix of fans currently gathering in the United States.
“That’s the wonderful thing about sports. It can unite, it can make or break you, and it can bring people together. I mean, we are in Atlanta now, and I see so many Africans, South Africans, people from Mexico in one room. That’s the beauty of sport, that’s the beauty of football.”
Williams also urged football enthusiasts to redirect their focus to on-pitch performances, saying, “Let’s just enjoy, let’s have a wonderful time, and we leave politics to the politicians, you know, let us just play football, enjoy ourselves and criticise for what happens on the field.
“Off the field things, you know, we can’t deal with that, and it’s got nothing to do with us. So, yeah, as Africa, let’s unite and let’s keep going because we are all in this together.”
