Poggenpoel’s Bafana Bafana call-up inspires Durban City, says captain Ncanana

Durban City captain Siphamandla Ncanana says Brooklyn Poggenpoel’s selection for Bafana Bafana has given the club’s players fresh belief that they can also reach the international stage.

Poggenpoel is the only player from outside South Africa’s so-called ‘big three’ clubs in the current squad preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The midfielder made his international debut on Wednesday, replacing the injured Bathusi Aubaas in the first half of Bafana Bafana’s match against Eritrea in Egypt.

Ncanana believes Poggenpoel’s progress has offered a powerful example to his Durban City team-mates and demonstrated that opportunities remain available to players beyond the country’s leading clubs.

“It encourages us so much, it makes us want to do well, we want to see more of call-ups from the club,” Ncanana told iDiski Times.

He said Poggenpoel’s presence in the national team should motivate other players at Durban City to continue working towards international recognition.

“Having a representative there shows that there are opportunities for us to still make it,” he added.

Ncanana also suggested Poggenpoel’s call-up could be the first of several international breakthroughs for players at the club. He stressed that the squad’s collective support had played an important role in helping their team-mate reach Bafana Bafana.

“We just have to push each other as guys because he was also not going to be there without us. So, it’s so important for us as players to support each other.”