AmaZulu FC goalkeeper Veli Mothwa has spoken about how Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos brings the best out of the underrated players in the national team.
The 71-year-old was recently heavily linked with a Tunisia job. However, he refuted the rumours, insisting that he was going to remain in the seat as Bafana’s mentor.
The Belgian coach has been with South Africa since May 2021, when he took over from Molefi Ntseki, who had been shown the exit door.
In this year’s AFCON, he guided Bafana to the semi-final for the first time in 24 years. They went on to secure the bronze medal after downing DR Congo in the third-place playoff.
At times, Broos’ team selections have left the country surprised when he gave opportunities to the players who were deemed unimportant.
Mothwa has praised the 2017 AFCON-winning coach, Broos for his ability to get the best out of his underestimated men.
He picked out Nyiko Mobbie and Siyanda Xulu whose selections have been questioned. He believes they have emerged as “stars” after Broos’ refinement.
VELI MOTHWA SAYS HUGO BROOS POLISHES PLAYERS TO BECOME ‘STARS’
“Hugo Broos is like a father in the house and the father who pushes discipline and respect in the house,” said Mothwa.
“And then when you come in as a new player in the national team, he sits you down and asks you, ‘What are you good at?’ “You tell him those things and then he’s gonna instill his thoughts in everything that you told him, what you can do best.
“He’s gonna polish it, brush it for you and make it shine. And when you come out in the national team, when you play, you’re the star that most of people don’t think you are.
“You can see most of the players, for example, Mobbie Nyiko, and Siyanda Xulu. Most of the people say they are not fit for the national team, but check their records when they play for the national team, it’s better than their club levels.
“This is because there’s [Broos] who’s polishing players in the national team. He’s a good person, he loves his players.”
Mothwa says Broos has been irked by people’s criticism before, however, he’s still willing to improve the South African national team.
‘HE’S WILLING TO TEACH US MANY THINGS’
“Somewhere somehow, he gets pissed but he doesn’t get pissed by players. He gets pissed by other people which we as national team players, we can’t say those things,” he continued.
“But anywhere how, he’s a good person. He’s willing to listen and he’s willing to learn. He’s willing to teach us many things that most of the people don’t teach us.
“That’s why he’s a national team coach.”
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