By: Mpho Sekharume

The South African national team will be looking to draw great motivation from the vibrant football loving crowd in Bloemfontein when they face Lesotho tomorrow and Nigeria this coming Tuesday at the Free State Stadium. Known to have to have some of the liveliest football supporters in the country, Bloemfontein football fans have for decades embodied the undy ing spirit of cheering their team on in synchronised fashion that is yet to be emulated elsewhere in the country. This distinctive factor has also served as a key moral boost for their local teams namely Bloem fontein Celtic – which the supporters have since ‘abandoned’ in favour of premiership entrants Siwelele FC. At a press briefing at the stadium yesterday, Broos said he believes the massive support the team will enjoy in the upcoming two fixtures will serve as a much-needed boost to get the job done against their African counterparts. “The last time we played in Bloemfontein there was a big crowd…and I think it was the first time we played in front of a big crowd. “The atmosphere in the stadium was fantas tic. After that it was the beginning because after that in every stadium we played it was a full crowd,” he noted. Broos recalled times when his chargers used to play in front of almost empty venues elsewhere. “Before we played in front of around 2000 people at a big stadium like FNB,” noted Broos “It is not nice and it doesn’t make a player or a coach happy when you come out of a dressing room and you see an empty stadium. “When there is a crowd behind you as a team you can always do more,” he added. Skipper Ronwen Williams recollection of the last time Bafana Bafana was in the Free State was also very positive. He said he hopes supporters will come out and show similar support when they face Lesotho tomorrow and Nigeria four days later at the same venue. “We know the crowd can be an extra motivation and we have got good memories of playing last year here against Zimbabwe. “So hopefully the fans will come out again and be that extra motivation that we need for these important games. It is two massive games in this group and we hope to get positive results in both games. While aware of the mammoth task of qualify ing for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted in North America in June and July next year, both Broos and Williams indicated that the team is ready to deliver against their African coun terparts. Broos said the match against Lesotho is a must-win fixture, as it will also put pressure on their other opponents in Group C. “For us we have to win the game tomorrow. The way we will try to do it I will tell you. But what makes me happy is that I see a very motivated group. And all the boys know that also for them it will be a highlight in their careers to go to America, Canada, Mexico next year. “From my side we are very motivated to play the game of tomorrow and try to win it. At the other side we also know that Lesotho is always a very tough opponent. I think it’s important that we do that tomorrow and put pressure on the other oppo nents. I think Nigeria is only playing on Saturday, so that means we have to take this opportunity with both hands. “So, it will be a very tough game. But again, when you are so far already as we are for the moment, you can always try do something more and that we will try to do tomorrow and beat Lesotho,” Broos said at the media conference. Williams also highlighted the importance of win ning against Lesotho and Nigeria, as part of their objective to go compete at the looming World Cup tournament next year. “We know how important this game is and what it can do the qualification for the World Cup. This is the next step for our objective, which is to be at the World Cup. “So, everything has been going well and we are just looking forward to doing the business tomorrow,” added Williams. Bafana Bafana’s match against Lesotho will kick off at 18:00 tomorrow evening, while the fixture against Nigeria on Tuesday will also kick off at 18:00 at the same venue.