Fresh from guiding Bafana Bafana to the CAF AFCON third-place finish, Hugo Broos has reacted to the reported interest from North Africa and whether he’d see out his contract until 2026.
The 71-year coach helped South Africa achieve a feat they last accomplished in 2000 at AFCON, defeating DR Congo in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze on Saturday.
Broos’ dream to hoist the continental trophy with Bafana was finished by Nigeria after Bafana lost on penalties in the semi-final on Wednesday. However, SA have received praise from many after defying the odds in the tournament, as they were not expected to reach the last four.
According to reports, Tunisia are interested in the services of Broos, who impressed many with his side at AFCON. He met them in the group stages and held them to a 0-0 draw.
Broos says it’s normal that there’ll be rumours linking him with some countries especially having done well with SA. But he insisted he knew “nothing” about the North Africans, Tunisia.
He went on to assure the nation that he was committed to Bafana and would only leave if SAFA decides to part ways with him.
HUGO BROOS SAYS HE KNOWS ‘NOTHING’ ABOUT NORTH AFRICAN GIANTS
“It’s normal when you have [good] results as a coach, when you play a very good tournament, like, for example, when you play that there is an interest from teams,” said Broos.
“For a player, it’s a club; for a national coach, it’s a country. I had that experience also when I won [AFCON] with Cameroon.
“But most of the time, it’s only rumours, people will say something, ‘oh yes this coach did very good results. Oh, but in this country and that country, they’re looking for a coach, and oh, maybe he’s a candidate.’
‘I’M HAPPY WITH MY JOB’
“I can say to you today, there’s nothing, really nothing. You told me there are some people who are coming to me and said, ‘Oh, coach this and that’.
“If Hugo Broos is leaving South Africa, then it will be because the Federation decides to leave. That’s all, I’m happy with my job, I’m happy with the team, I’m not always happy with the media.
“But okay, I take it with [me]. But we will see. I hope that now people will be more and more behind the team.”
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