Siyay’eAmerica! Hugo Broos Silences Doubters in Style

When Hugo Broos was appointed as Bafana Bafana coach more than four years ago, it wasn’t love at first sight between him and the masses - let alone between him and the members of the fourth estate: the media.

But fast forward to now, and Broos has fully endeared himself to all and sundry, restoring the pride of the nation. That’s why he’s arguably the best coach Bafana has had since the era of the late Clive Barker, who won the country’s maiden AFCON crown.

World Cup Qualification Secured

Broos brought euphoria across the country on Tuesday, helping the national team automatically qualify for the biggest footballing event - the 2026 FIFA World Cup - for the first time since the 2002 edition. (They qualified as hosts in 2010.)

The road to North America - where the event will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada - had its twists and turns in the latter stages, owing to the sanction of three points by FIFA for the fielding of an ineligible Teboho Mokoena in the qualifier against Lesotho in March, and a draw with Zimbabwe in the penultimate qualifier.

But boy, Broos was steadfast in his belief that they’d reach the promised land heading into the final match, despite needing a favour from arch-rivals Nigeria to finish top of Group C. And voilà - Bafana got the job done, beating Rwanda 3-0 at Mbombela Stadium, while the Super Eagles soared against Benin, winning 4-0.

Staying True to His Word

Heading into the clash against Rwanda must have felt like déjà vu: once again, he was being doubted over his ability to turn things around. But he did it - just like he promised when he first addressed the media in May 2021.

Broos had promised that they would qualify for both the delayed 2023 and upcoming 2025 AFCON tournaments, and he kept his word. His team even achieved a podium finish in the last edition - their first in more than two decades.

And that’s not all. Broos vowed that if he failed to qualify for next year’s global showpiece, he wouldn’t wait to be forced out - he’d voluntarily step down.

Helman Mkhalele’s Influence

But kudos to him for being a man of honour. Broos will now not only complete a career full circle by coaching at the World Cup - after playing in the event himself, ironically in Mexico, 40 years ago - but he’ll also make many dreams come true before going back to Belgium to enjoy a well-deserved retirement with his family.

Most of the people in Broos’ camp, including the technical team and players, have never been to a senior World Cup - except for assistant Helman Mkhalele, whom Broos regards as a life-long brother.

Mkhalele was part of the team that played in Bafana’s maiden World Cup in 1998. Such was his impact during qualification for the global showpiece that Broos said he wouldn’t have achieved this without him. The duo has been tight as glue since the day Broos appointed Mkhalele as his only right-hand man following the departure of Cedomir Janevski.

Granted, Mkhalele played a key role in the transformation of the national team - thanks to his playing experience and in-depth knowledge of South African football - but the game ultimately belongs to the players. And Broos knows that all too well.

They - and not the technical team or supporters - play the game. And boy, Broos’ boys haven’t just played the game; some have grown into men.

Youth, Merit, and a New Bafana Era

When Broos said he’d focus more on youngsters - selecting them based on merit rather than popularity - to build a team that would be sustainable for at least five years, he was laughed at. His predecessors had made it almost acceptable for the team to be dominated by players from the “Big Three” (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns), regardless of form.

But slowly and surely, Broos proved he knew what he was doing. The launch of international careers for players such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Oswin Appollis, and Thalente Mbatha proved to be a breath of fresh air.

Looking Beyond the World Cup

Broos didn’t just unearth new careers - he revived some as well. If it wasn’t for him, perhaps Ronwen Williams would still be scrutinised for the blunder he made on debut against Brazil, rather than being the reigning No. 1 goalkeeper at home and on the continent.

Perhaps, if it wasn’t for him, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau, and Lyle Foster - just to name a few - wouldn’t have come of age.

Perhaps!

Doubts Over Broos' Appointment

Broos has done a lot to restore national pride. Despite all the administrative challenges at SAFA - including delayed payments - he has managed to get the best out of his players.

So when he addressed the media after qualifying for the global showpiece - going down memory lane and reminding everyone that he was criticised even before holding his first training session - he must have felt vindicated.

It’s true he wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many expected Pitso Mosimane or Benni McCarthy to be appointed as Bafana's new coach, replacing Molefi Ntseki. And given that Broos was approaching the 70-year-old mark at the time, many believed he had taken the job just to secure one last big paycheque before retiring.

The Return of Bafana Pride

But the 73-year-old has served a lot of humble pie - so much so that even those who didn’t want him are now bowing down to him. He has revived national pride, and now Siyay’eAmerica!

It’s for this reason that we, at SuperSportBet, salute Broos and his boys for a job well done. Bafana Bafana are back on the biggest international stage for the fourth time - something that may have been unthinkable had Broos not been appointed in 2021 and given the freedom to run the team his way.

So again, to Madala Hugo Broos - Siyabonga!

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