Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams celebrates with his charges following their win over South Korea.
Record-breaking Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams was visibly emotional on Thursday morning after leading his side to their first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage appearance.
Bafana secured their spot in the round of 32 following a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea. They finished second in Group A, trailing only co-hosts Mexico, who maintained a perfect opening-phase record, including a victory over South Africa in the tournament opener.
Coach Hugo Broos’s side had been largely written off by pundits following their initial loss to El Tri and a subsequent draw against the Czech Republic. Entering the final fixture against South Korea as clear underdogs, they defied the critics to qualify.
Displaying immense determination in Monterrey, the squad secured a crucial three points thanks to a second-half goal from Thapelo Maseko. His clinical strike capped off a stellar individual performance that earned him the official FIFA Player of the Match award.
