Ethan Brooks: Bafana Bafana midfielder reflects on historic Ghana win

Broos made it known from his opening press conference when unveiled as the successor to Molefi Ntseki as Bafana boss that he would look to youth to usher the national team into a new era.

And the 20-year-old TS Galaxy talent has been one of the beneficiaries of his vision after first impressing during the 2021 Cosafa Cup triumph before his call up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.

He played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Ghana that's put South Africa in pole position at the summit of Group G to advance to the playoffs for the global showpiece which he admits was a surreal occasion.

"It was amazing for me, I've been watching Ghana since a very young age, it's one of my mother's favourite African teams, so it was a very good experience for me to actually start the game and finish it, I learnt a lot throughout the whole game, it was amazing," he told the club's media department before opening up on Broos.

"He [Broos] made it very easy for in the day before, he just said I need to play as I play at the club, play with confidence, don't be scared and do what I do and everything will come right.

"He gave me that belief to go out on the field that I can go out and play against those big guys on that field and I was confident like I've been there for a while, but it's about the coach believing in me."

11. Augustine Mahlonoko (Baroka FC) – 19 years, 3 months & 11 days (Orlando Pirates 1-1 Baroka FC, 28 November 2020)

10. Thuso Mogale (Baroka FC) – 19 years, 1 month & 27 days (Baroka 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns, 9 January 2021)

9. MacBeth Mahlangu (TS Galaxy) – 19 years, 1 month & 25 days (TS Galaxy 0-1 Stellenbosch FC, 6 December 2020)

8. Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy) – 19 years & 23 days (Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 TS Galaxy, 15 December 2020)

7. Ally Msengi (Stellenbosch FC) – 18 years, 10 months & 5 days (Stellenbosch FC 1-1 Swallows FC, 25 October 2020)

6. Azola Tshobeni (Orlando Pirates) – 18 years, 7 months & 16 days (Maritzburg United 0-1 Orlando Pirates, 23 January 2021)

5. Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC) – 18 years, 3 months & 28 days (TTM 1-0 Stellenbosch FC, 21 February 2021)

4. Fuad Johnson (Stellenbosch FC) – 17 years, 11 months & 25 days (Baroka 1-3 Stellenbosch FC, 10 March 2021)

3. Kayden Francis (Chippa United) – 17 years, 7 months & 19 days (Chippa United 1-1 TTM, 29 November 2020)

2. Keletso Sifama (Kaizer Chiefs) – 17 years, 5 months & 27 days (Kaizer Chiefs 0-3 Mamelodi Sundowns, 24 October 2020)

1. Roy-Keane Avontuur (Stellenbosch FC) – 17 years, 2 months & 4 days (Stellenbosch FC 1-1 Swallows FC, 25 October 2020)

Scroll through the gallery to see the 11 youngest players to feature during the 2020/21 DStv Premiership season

After several industrious displays in national team colours which began with his surprise debut in the 3-2 international friendly win against Uganda in June, the 20-year-old says he's aiming to continue his upward trajectory as praise flows from supporters but emphasised that the doubleheader against Ethiopia in October is already on his mind.

"I'm happy to have those praises and let people give those comments, I'm happy with it but at the end of the day it's me that has to go on the field and do the hard work to make sure those comments continue to come through," Brooks added.

"Yes [the result], it gives us a lot of hope you know, being on top of the league is very good for us, it's not over, we're going to play Ethiopia [next].

'Hopefully, we can do what we did against Ghana there and stay on top of the log. It's vital that we get that six points."

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