Former Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp has responded to the remarks made by Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, suggesting that South Africa needs more players in top European leagues to compete for major trophies.
Broos made the remarks after Bafana crashed out of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. The 1996 AFCON were eliminated from the Round of 16 of the tournament last weekend after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Cameroon.
In the Last 16 match, the Indomitable Lions exposed Bafana’s defensive frailties that have seen the side concede six goals in four matches played in the Nations Cup.
Broos and his charges made it to the knockout stage after finishing Group B in second place with six points in three matches. They collected maximum points with wins against Angola and Zimbabwe while losing against Egypt.
Upon Bafana’s arrival from Morocco, the Belgian mentor told reporters that South Africa needed to export players to the top European leagues to stand a chance of winning major tournaments such as AFCON.
The statement has since sparked debates, and Middendorp, who is the technical director at Durban City FC, has argued that Europe doesn’t improve players, but good coaching locally does.
MIDDENDORP DISAGREES WITH BROOS ON EXPORTING SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYERS TO EUROPEAN LEAGUES
“Football development is environmental, not geographical,” Middendorp said on LinkedIn.
“Europe is not the cause of improvement; it is just the place where standards are enforced daily, excuses are removed, and responsibility is unavoidable. If those same principles are applied consistently in South Africa, players will improve without leaving the country. And when they do go abroad, they will succeed more often, because the foundation was already strong.
“Improvement happens at home when the environment is right. South African players do improve locally when coaching is demanding, consistent, and detail-driven.
“Training intensity matches real match demands, selection is based on performance, not reputation, players are held accountable for off-ball behaviour, winning habits are built through structure, not speeches.
“A strong local environment with clarity and pressure will develop players. The problem is not South African talent. The problem is the ‘uneven football culture,” he concluded.
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