Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has moved to temper expectations around South Africa’s promising U-20 talents, cautioning against premature hype by stating, “We don’t have Yamals and Messis.”
Amajita, under the guidance of Raymond Mdaka, won the 2025 CAF AFCON tournament held in Egypt last month. The squad also scooped some individual awards with Stellenbosch FC defender Tylon Smith, winning Player of the Tournament, and Fletcher Lowe voted the Best Goalkeeper.
Despite calling young players such as Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Simphiwe Selepe in his squad to face Tanzania and Mozambique in international friendlies, Broos believes it will be immature to rush the U-20s into the Bafana system.
BAFANA BAFANA COACH WARNS AGAINST RUSHING YOUNG PLAYERS TO THE SENIOR TEAM
“I don’t think we have to rush with those guys. They are young and have achieved fantastic results, winning the AFCON,” Broos told Journalists.
“But we don’t have to think that they are already at the level of Bafana Bafana. It’s too soon for them. Secondly, there is a World Cup. I think it’s much better for them that they play the World Cup in three months and have that international experience at their level.
“We don’t have to underestimate the World Cup. They will play against very good teams and players. So for them, it’s a new experience. I think it’s much better to give them that experience than to call them immediately for Bafana Bafana,” he emphasised.
HUGO BROOS INSISTS THE TRANSITION TO BAFANA BAFANA NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY MANAGED
“They are 17, 18 and 19-year-olds. So it’s much better to have an experience at their level. We have to be very careful with the young players and certainly with players of today who have won an AFCON. Everybody is thinking that suddenly, and I exaggerate now, that we have [Lamine] Yamal’s and young [Lionel] Messi’s. No, we are not that far.
“So give them time because when we call them too soon, maybe we will break their careers. They are not ready, and everyone will say ‘Oh, they are not so good’. Maybe after AFCON, we will see what we do with them, but for sure, if they can confirm again at the World Cup, then everything is open after AFCON.”
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