Renaldo Leaner opens up on keeping Bafana World Cup dream alive

Leaner is part of the latest Bafana Bafana squad to play against Panama in two international friendlies in Durban and Cape Town on Friday and next Tuesday respectively.  

He had featured in the first seven matches in all competitions before returning to the bench for the next seven matches at Sekhukhune, but even with those hiccups, he never stopped believing. 

"I don't feel like I was surprised, in the prelim squad there is always five goalkeepers so if your name is there in the beginning, among the five, you always have to be ready," said Leaner.

"Because anything can happen – they can get injured and you have to be ready, so if you feel like there's always three and I won't make the final squad, when you do get a chance then you won't be ready.

"So I was always ready, like if I do get a chance then I will be able to come."

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This is Learner’s second call-up to the national team, having been part of the team that faced Mozambique and Tanzania in June last year, and the Ajax Cape Town graduate says he wasn’t surprised by coach Hugo Broos’ nod. 

"I can remember the last interview with you, it was after I was in the Bafana camp against Tanzania and Mozambique, and the season had just started, I played the first three or four game and I got dropped for [whatever] reason," he added.

"But that never stopped me from working hard because I believe in myself, I know my abilities, and I had been pushing hard at training and eventually my head coach at the club decided to give me another chance, and I took it from there.

"So I always had a dream, if I get a chance to play I will do my best and I can only control what is in my control, like if I play then I can control it but the rest I can't control."