Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has dismissed concerns about his players’ small stature as a possible disadvantage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Broos’ side includes small-stature attackers, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis. They will be up against players who are heavily built at the global football showpiece.
The Bafana coach has admitted some of his players are physically inferior. South Africa is in Group A together with Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic.
Broos has stated that the issue of physicality became a brutal reality when they lost to Mali at the 2023 AFCON finals. The Belgian also delayed fully utilising Orlando Pirates star Mofokeng while arguing that the versatile star is not physically imposing and can easily be pushed off the ball.
Currently, Mexico have Lokomotiv Moscow centre-back Cesar Montes, who is 1.95m tall, while Genoa’s Johan Vásquez is at 1.85m. Mofokeng and his fellow Bafana attackers will have to deal with these central defenders, especially in aerial duels.
PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Matej Kovar is an imposing figure for the Czech Republic at 1.96m, as he also commands defenders Martin Vitik and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ladislav Krejčí, who are almost equally tall. South Africa defenders will also have to deal with Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, who stands at 1.91m tall.
PHYSICALITY NOT AN ISSUE FOR BAFANA, ARGUES BROOS
“It’s not a worry, but it’s something we have to work on. We could have solved that problem at AFCON because after Mali we knew that we had to be more determined in duels, we had to be more stronger,” said Broos.
“It’s not good to give too much space to players who are powerful. We saw a few times that they are quicker in long distances, and 30 to 35 metres, they are quicker, and they have power.
“So, again, we know what we have to work on. It’s not a worry, certainly not because I know that if we can be together for a while, I welcome that South Africa can also play that style.”
RELATED STORY: Broos addresses Bafana’s lack of killer instinct issue