Orlando Pirates full-back Deano van Rooyen has backed his club-mate Nkosinathi Sibisi to lead the national team well after being named as the stand-in Bafana Bafana captain.
Bafana Bafana will face Tanzania at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday before facing Mozambique four days later in friendly matches with Sibisi set to wear the armband in the absence of both Ronwen Williams and Themba Zwane who are on club commitments with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Coach Hugo Broos said he settled on Subisi due to his experience and Van Rooyen has shared some key things about the Pirates defender that will make him an outstanding captain.
What does Van Rooyen make of captain Sibisi?
“I think he is someone that doesn’t talk a lot but his actions on the field speak for itself. I think he is that kind of a leader. He shows action on the field and that is good for us,” Van Rooyen said in camp as quoted by iDiski Times.
Sibisi has also been the captain at Pirates at the just-concluded season when he took the armband following the long-term injury to Olisa Ndah and the limited game time of then club skipper Innocent Maela, who has since left the Sea Robbers.
He led by example and some of those qualities and experience convinced coach Broos to hand him the armband.
Bafana coach lauded the Pirates centre-back
“It’s a little bit of a search but I think with Sibisi we have a good captain, he’s an experienced player with Bafana Bafana since I am here, from the first day I am here he been with us,” Broos said after naming the 29-year-old as captain.
“He’s experienced as an older player, he is a guy who has the respect from everybody, so he’s a good one to replace Ronwen.”
Bafana Bafana are looking for positive outcomes from the matches as they stay in shape ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September but will play the June friendlies without Sundowns players who are due to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup this month.
