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New Bafana Bafana Captain, ‘Tyson’ Talks Tough

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The Times of South Africa has reported that Thulani Hlatshwayo, alias ‘Tyson’  is not intimidated by being made Stuart Baxter’s Bafana Bafana captain‚ nor meeting Nigeria away in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in his first outing as permanent skipper when leadership on the field will be crucial.

As captain and centre back for newly-crowned Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits‚ ‘Tyson’ never shirks a challenge and dishes them out with an at times bone-crushing intensity.

It seems Bafana’s new captain will take to that task with the same relish – not talking so much‚ but leading by example.

Hlatshwayo has captained Bafana before‚ under the strange rotation policy of previous coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba.

He is not intimidated by being given the armband full-time this week by Baxter

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I’m honored to be given the armband permanently‚” Hlatshwayo said at Bafana’s training session at FNB Stadium on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria in Uyo.

“Though‚ I know that I do have a lot of captains around me. So I know I have a lot of backing.

“It’s good knowing it’s on a permanent basis – knowing that when I’m called I’ll be the national team captain.

“It’s something that I’m familiar with. I’m the captain at Wits‚ so it’s an environment that I know.

“I’ll be looking to talk to the guys. As individual players we all have a responsibility to make sure that we perform for the country.

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“Sometimes coaches say that‚ ‘You’ve lost the game but you played your heart out’ – and that’s what I expect from the guys.”

Hlatshwayo does not shirk from the responsibility of facing Nigeria in his first game as captain.

“I’m up for the job. I’m a guy who always likes to compete. And I’ve captained the team against Nigeria when we played them at Mbombela Stadium (in a 1-1 friendly draw under Mashaba in March 2015).

“Unfortunately in that game we didn’t convert a penalty. When you look back‚ we dribbled them‚ we controlled the game‚ we did everything.

“So it’s a familiar environment that I’m aware of‚ and we know we have to go to Nigeria and come back with a good result.

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“We know that will demand a lot of soldiers around the team. I’m one of them‚ and we do have a lot of soldiers in this side.”

Hlatshwayo said Bafana will not be intimidated by the home crowd in Uyo‚ where SA held a 2-0 lead thanks to a Tokelo Rantie brace in a 2015 Nations Cup qualifier in November 2014‚ before late goals saw the Super Eagles earn a 2-2 draw.

The new Bafana captain‚ though‚ admitted that Nigeria‚ who preserved their unbeaten record in competitive matches against     Bafana with that draw‚ will be on the rebound having been denied a place at Afcon 2015 by SA in those qualifiers.

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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