CAPE TOWN -- Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams has urged South Africa fans to support Lyle Foster, suggesting that the under-fire striker's struggles at Burnley have affected his confidence.
Foster is a frequent target of fan vitriol from Bafana Bafana fans despite being their only active Premier League player. Burnley, who sit 19th in the league, are in dire straits - 10 points adrift from 17th-placed Tottenham with seven games left to play.
Foster picked up two goals and two assists in four games at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, but played poorly in the 2-1 round of 16 loss to Cameroon on Jan. 4.
He has only scored once since for Burnley and was wasteful in front of goal in Friday's 1-1 Durban draw with Panama, who South Africa will face again in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Williams told journalists, including ESPN, on Monday: "Lyle is a big boy. You don't play in the Premier League for so many years if you don't have quality. That's what you just remind him [to motivate him] - that [he is] quality.
"Yes; he's probably in a difficult moment not only in the national team, but in his club team as well.
"It is a difficult moment for him and people need to understand that when you watch where his team is at and how difficult it is for him. For him to wake up every day, show face, show up, try to go again, miss chances, look for the next one, keep running, keep working for the team - that's all we can ask of him."
Head coach Hugo Broos has generally favoured Foster as his clear first choice upfront since his return to the national team two years ago after a hiatus off the back of the striker's struggles with his mental health.
However, even Broos described Foster's performance in Friday's first game against Panama as "lazy" in terms of the amount of pressure he put on defenders. Williams' words are thus a notable endorsement of the 25-year-old striker's work ethic.
"Eventually, the ball will go in the back of the net because he's got the quality. He's still the same person that he always is - bubbly. I've been trying to keep an eye on him, but he seems like he's ok, so there isn't too much going on at this moment," the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper continued.
"I just think he needs that goal just to get his confidence back. Strikers, like everyone, when the ball is in the net - then, they're confident and forget about all their problems.
"Hopefully, [in the rematch against Panama]; the chances he gets, he can bury them. He can go back to England happy - especially these last two months of the league - to go and push and fight and come help us because we need him.
"He is our powerhouse upfront. He's been amazing for us; he scored wonderful goals at AFCON for us.
"We need a Lyle in good spirits. The country must support him - he's our player and he's done wonders for our country, so get behind him - support him in good and bad moments, because he will bang goals in."