What Broos got right: Doctor Khumalo’s verdict on squad selection
Renowned SA football legend Doctor Khumalo has highlighted the positive aspects of Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana squad selection as they pursue qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Khumalo was in the stands when Bafana beat Lesotho 2-0 in the World Cup qualifier tie at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, thanks to second-half goals by Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams.
Bafana will now shift their focus to their next against Benin on Tuesday, 25 March, away from home. This showdown will start at 18:00 [SA time].
Bafana are in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers alongside Rwanda, Benin, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. As things stand, Hugo Broos’ troops are number one in Group C, with a total of 10 points earned from five games.
WHAT IMPRESSED DOCTOR KHUMALO THE MOST ABOUT BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD SELECTION
The Bafana legend Khumalo said that he is pleased with coach Broos’s approach to selecting players from smaller teams rather than concentrating solely on the big clubs.
Broos roped in some new faces to his squad, such as Polokwane City FC star Rodney Maphangule, Vuyo Letlapa of Sekhukhune Unitec, and Stellenbosch FC defender Thabo Moloisane.
Maphangule replaced the injured Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi, Vuyo Letlapa filled in for Mamelodi Sundowns’ talented left-back Aubrey Modiba, while Moloisane was brought in for Kaizer Chiefs’ injured centre-back Rushwin Dortley.
“I must say that I’m so impressed with coach Broos’ selection. It’s been a while since we have seen from lower teams [small teams] making it to the Bafana Bafana squad,” Khumalo told FARPost.
“This goes down to show that Broos is actually talking to us and teaching us that we shouldn’t disrespect or undermine players from teams that are not that big in South Africa.
‘THEY WON’T STRUGGLE’, SAYS DOCTOR KHUMALO
Khumalo insists that the trio of Maphangule, Letlapa and Moloisane won’t “struggle” to find their feet within the national team because they have shown what they are capable of at their respective clubs.
“So, from where I’m seated, I think it wouldn’t be a problem to gel well with others because they know the DNA of South African football.
“The reason why they have been chosen or properly selected ahead of those who couldn’t make it is because the technical team properly saw them playing in their respective teams. So, they liked what they saw; hence, the coach selected them for these games.”
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