South Africa captain and goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, has urged football supporters across Africa and the rest of the world to unite and avoid allowing political differences to overshadow the spirit of the game.
The goalkeeper made the appeal amid growing online attacks on South Africa during the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Recall that South Africa’s FIFA World Cup campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 2 – 0 defeat to Mexico in their opening match, and they finished the game with nine men after two players were sent off.
The result quickly became a trending topic across social media, with other African nations taking the opportunity to drag South Africa.
The reactions were influenced by lingering resentment over repeated xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have targeted migrants from other African nations, including Nigeria and Ghana. Those incidents sparked widespread condemnation across the continent and forced many affected migrants to flee their homes and return to their countries of origin.
Ahead of their next fixture against Czechia, Ronwen called for unity among football fans across Africa and beyond, urging people not to allow political issues to divide them. The Bafana Bafana skipper stressed that Africans are one people and should focus on celebrating football, promoting respect, and supporting one another.
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