Golden Arrows coach reacts to Ronaldo Van Neel Bafana call-up

Golden Arrows head coach Pitso Dladla has reacted to the preliminary Bafana Bafana call-up of Ronaldo Van Neel ahead the 2027 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers later this month.

The 24-year-old right winger was included in the provisional squad named by newly appointed South Africa national team coach Pitso Mosimane, who is expected to trim down the team to 23-man for the clashes against Guinea and Eritrea.

Dladla says the appointment of a local coach will pay dividends for South African football, and believes Van Neel initially caught the eye of Mosimane during his time at Hungry Lions in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

“That is why it's good to have a national team coach that is local because I can tell you that coach Pitso and his technical team, it's not that they are seeing Ronaldo Van Neel here at Arrows [for the first time],” said the Arrows boss.

"I'm sure if you can talk to them they will tell you that they know him, they have been following him.

While Van Neel arrived at Arrows hot on the heels of clinching the Golden Boot with 13 goals in the second-tier last season, the KZN-born mentor says the attacker hasn't fully settled in as he is yet to open his account for the club in six matches.

“But for us as a team, we know what Ronaldo is capable of, he's still settling in, he hasn't adapted fully. I promise you that once he acclimatizes you'll see more of him, but it's pleasing to see him in the national team,” Dladla added.

"We've got so many talented players to be honest, we've got [Nhlanhla] Gasa, I'm sure everyone can see that he's got a bright future, we've got Philani Khumalo, we've got Jobe [Sabelo Sithole], and there's a lot of them.

"But like I said, as long as they play well and have ambition, the likes of Ayabulela Maxwele, [Nhlanhla] Zwane, [Khulekani] Shezi, who's one of the right backs in the country - so they must be ambitious as individuals.

Arrows will visit embattled Siwelele FC at Free State Stadium in their next Betway Premiership outing on Sunday, with the Bloemfontein-based outfit looking to register their maiden win of the 2026/27 season.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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