Brooks ready to make impact for Bafana

Playing football is second nature to Ethan Brooks, and there is nothing else he would rather be doing, but what he makes look effortless in the middle is anything but.
“It’s an honor and a thrill to receive another national call-up. When compared to the previous camp, there are a few new faces, but the atmosphere remains the same. “It’s upbeat and positive,” Brooks exclaimed, his face beaming.

Game each game, he tries to lift the bar. “When I look back on my performances, I want to contribute with goals and assists, and that is something I want to work on in the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia,” Brooks continued.

In recent weeks, the 20-year-old has passed through the hands of various coaches, from club to country. Owen Da Gama was his coach at TS Galaxy, followed by Shaun Bartlett, his assistant, who took over for a short time until Sead Ramovic was named head coach, and then the quartet of Hugo Broos, Cedomir Janevski, and Helman Mkhalele at the national level.

“Every coach has helped me advance in my career. Every single one has left an indelible mark on me and my football style now and in the future, but it’s difficult because I have to adapt to their individual styles to give them what they want,” Brooks said.

Brooks has his sights set on relocating to Belgium, Spain, or Italy to play for an international club, which is no accident given that the national team is coached by a Belgian.

He is, however, thinking big and playing his heart out for the time being.

If the headlines on the roadways with his name on them are any indication, it’ll only be a matter of time before his fantasies come true.