Poggenpoel fulfils long-held Bafana Bafana ambition after debut

Durban City midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel says making his first appearance for Bafana Bafana was a proud moment for both him and his family after finally achieving a long-standing ambition.

The highly-rated midfielder was among the players receiving their maiden call-ups as South Africa prepared to face Guinea and Eritrea before meeting Egypt in an international friendly.

Poggenpoel made his debut on Tuesday during Bafana Bafana’s convincing 5-0 victory over Eritrea. He came on in the second half to replace Bathusi Aubaas, who had been forced to leave the field with an injury during the opening half.

The appearance marked an important step in Poggenpoel’s development, having worked towards representing his country for a considerable period.

“It is a very proud moment for me and my family. Receiving my first Bafana Bafana call-up is something I have worked towards for a long time, and I am very grateful for the opportunity,” said Poggenpoel, as per the Durban City website.

The midfielder had previously been included in South Africa’s preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup but was not selected in the final group.

However, Poggenpoel said that disappointment had not affected his determination. He maintained that his motivation remained unchanged and that he used the period away from international duty to prepare for the next stage of his career.

“I do not think it was a setback in any way. My motivation stays the same regardless. I spent some time at home with my family and close friends and just focused on preparing myself for pre-season and the season ahead.”