OPINION: Hugo Broos treating Bafana Bafana job like a freelance side hustle
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is a man who has divided opinion since his arrival in May 2021.
Some admire the Belgian’s no-nonsense approach and his outspoken nature, while others criticise his perceived arrogance.
Granted, Bafana Bafana have underperformed for the longest time, but they remain the national team of a much-loved sport in South Africa and must be treated with a semblance of respect.
SAFA, in the process, have also not covered themselves in glory. But that is no reason to treat the Bafana Bafana job with disdain.
Thursday’s announcement of his squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament made from his distant Belgium home was a bit of a shocking arrangement. How on earth do you announce a national team squad for a tournament like AFCON via Microsoft Teams?
Watching that live broadcast, I couldn’t help but replay the colourful Springboks squad announcement in August. The Springboks event buzzed with anticipation, fitting for a national team going to a major tournament. It’s a national team after all – going to a high-stakes continental tournament.
This aloofness, coupled with some eyebrow-raising player selections, got me mulling over Broos’ commitment to the country he leads. The Belgian’s questionable approach to coaching our beloved national team leaves me with so many questions. It borders on disrespect for the South African football landscape and its passionate supporters.
I’ll dissect the rot at its core:
ARMCHAIR SELECTION FROM AFAR
Selecting the South African national team while lounging in Belgium exudes an air of arrogance. I know some will argue that it’s holiday. But, world over, football coaches preparing for major tournaments plan their holidays around their jobs. Surely, for a man who pockets millions of rand in income, his priorities are a bit upside down.
His response to Andile Ncube when the sports journalist asked why the coach was away smirked with arrogance. “I couldn’t fly to be there for one hour…”. That’s how unimportant this is for the man who appears so immersed in the festive season mood instead of strategising for AFCON. This detached approach betrays a lack of understanding of the South African footballing environment, its nuances, and its potential.
Someone must remind Hugo Broos that being a national coach isn’t a part-time gig; it requires immersion in the local scene, a pulse on the ground that he seems content to ignore.
SHORT-SIGHTED VISION: DOES HUGO BROOS TAKE THE BAFANA BAFANA JOB SERIOUSLY?
At the start of his Bafana Bafana tenure, Broos went for the youth, insisting he wanted to rebuild a team for the future. He even had the unheralded Ethan Brooks in his squad, snubbing the experience of Themba Zwane. With time, his approach totally changed.
His apparent lack of interest in the country’s youth development scene is telling. He has rarely, if ever, graced the stands of South Africa’s age-group teams, raising concerns about his understanding of the talent pool and his commitment to building for the future.
This disconnect between the national team and its future stars is a worrying trend, especially considering the country’s recent struggles on the international stage. South Africans desperately want a team built on a strong foundation, not just cobbled together from a distance.
For me, missing tournaments such as COSAFA paints a bleak picture. Building a successful national team is a marathon, not a sprint. Ignoring the feeder system suggests Broos is only interested in the immediate result rather than the long-term health of Bafana Bafana. For a man complaining about a lack of talent, he should be at a COSAFA Cup and watching South African players overseas to make informed decisions regarding selection.
Where is he going to find the long-term replacement for Themba Zwane if he’s not at these tournaments? Where’s he going to find that replacement if he’s not watching South Africans plying their trade overseas? Or maybe he’s not thinking long-term?
THE LYLE FOSTER ISSUE
Going to an AFCON tournament, knowing Lyle Foster is an important part of his team, Broos would have, at least, made an effort to visit the player. Of course, SAFA would have to sanction that kind of trip. But sitting somewhere in Belgium and failing to take that trip to Burnley FC to sit down with the player must tell you everything you need to know about Broos’ commitment to his players.
A fortnight ago, the Nigeria national team coach Jose Peseiro visited Stanley Nwabili in Port Elizabeth. Nwabili has never played a Super Eagles game under the Portuguese mentor, yet he visited him. Of course, he has since called him up to the AFCON squad. But he made an effort to come and see him.
Last month, Tanzania national team coach Adel Amrouche visited Pretoria to see Abdurazak Hamza. Surely, with permission from the club and the player, Broos could have visited Foster. But, does he really care?
SELECTION CONUNDRUMS
Broos’ perplexing team choices leave fans scratching their heads. He throws names around like dice, with little consistency or explanation. His unwillingness to address these concerns adds insult to injury, creating an atmosphere of mistrust and confusion. Among the most hotly contested decisions are Fagrie Lakay, Khanyisa Mayo and Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s omission. Hlongwane, with 22 goal contributions in 38 MLS games, was deemed unfit by Broos. Lakay is not good enough for the national team. Tashreeq Matthews, scorer of 10 goals and 10 assists in Sweden, is too small. But Oswin Appollis is okay. Mayo, the top scorer last season and leading scorer currently, is not good enough. And the Orlando Pirates duo of Zakhele Lepasa and Evidence Makgopa are good enough.
ECHO CHAMBER OF A YES MAN
The fact that SAFA have to go and fetch Morena Ramoreboli from Botswana to come and coach Bafana Bafana at the COSAFA Cup tells you there’s a problem. When you bring in a foreign coach, the idea is for a local to tap into their wells of wisdom. Once that foreign coach has served his time, the understudy must be equipped to take over.
The current setup doesn’t serve that purpose. I can tell you for free that if, for any reason, Broos can’t make it to AFCON, SAFA would have to start looking for a ‘new’ coach.
All this is because Broos refused to appoint local assistant coaches – Ramoreboli and Raymond Mdaka – who could challenge and complement him. He surrounds himself with an echo chamber of sycophants, unwilling to entertain diverse perspectives or constructive criticism.
Broos’ poor selections and decisions reflect a man flying solo without input from someone who understands the South African landscape. Who does he report to? Who holds him to account for some of the questionable decisions he makes?
WAITING FOR AFCON WITH BATED BREATH
South African football fans, forever vocal and never afraid to hold their coach’s feet to the fire, will be watching with bated breath, hoping their beloved Bafana Bafana can finally rise to the occasion and reclaim their place among Africa’s elite.
Only time will tell whether Broos’ distant drums will lead Bafana Bafana to a triumphant dance on the AFCON stage or leave the fans drowning in a sea of disappointment.
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