Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster goes through his paces at training ahead of the friendly against Panama at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday night.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is confident Lyle Foster will bring along his scoring boots to Tuesday evening's international friendly against Panama at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Foster has come in for severe criticism, from both fans and even coach Hugo Broos who described the striker as ‘a bit lazy’, after three golden opportunities went amiss in last Friday’s clash against the same opposition at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
But Williams believes the Burnley forward, who is Bafana’s sole player in the English Premiership, remains a striker of the highest quality and that it's only a matter of time before he finds the back of the net again.
“Lyle is a big boy. You know, you don't play in the Premiership for so many years if you don't have quality,” the Bafana skipper told the media.
“And that's what just remind him that you are quality. Yes, he's probably in a difficult moment, not only the national team, but his club team as well. So, it is a difficult moment for him, and people need to understand that.
“When you watch where his team is at, and how difficult it is for him. But for him to wake up every day, show face, show up, try and go again, miss chances, look for the next one, keep running, keep working for the team, that's all we can ask of him. Eventually the ball will go in the back of the net because he's got the quality.”
Foster has been Bafana’s premier striker during coach Broos’ tenure with the 25-year-old leading the line at last year’s African Cup of Nations, scoring against both Angola and Zimbabwe.
Williams believes this is testament to his quality on the big stage.
“He's our powerhouse up front. He's been amazing for us. He's scored wonderful goals at AFCON for us.
“So, we need a Lyle in good spirits. And you know the country must support him. You know, he's our player.
“And he's done wonders for our country. So, get behind him. Support him in good and bad moments because he will bang goals.
“He's still the same person that he always is. I just think he needs, you know, that goal just to get his confidence back. Because strikers, like everyone, when the ball is in the net, then they're confident, then they forget about all their problems. So hopefully tomorrow night, the chances he gets, he can bury them.
“And you know, he can go back to England happy. You know, especially these last two months of the league to go and push and fight. And come help us because we need him.”
Kickoff: 7:30pm