Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Muhsin Ertugral has scrutinised Hugo Broos’s team selection and tactics for Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico on Thursday.
South Africa lost the match 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium, ending the contest with two men down after red cards to Sphephelo Sithole and vice-captain Themba Zwane. The co-hosts also had a player sent off in stoppage time, but they had already completed the job over Bafana.
Broos opted for a defensive approach in his starting XI by lining up five defenders and two defensive midfielders. More attacking responsibilities were thrown at Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Jayden Adams, as well as twin strikers Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners.
Offensive support from wing-backs Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba was not effective in a match in which the 1996 African champions struggled in midfield. Leaving out the tried and tested likes of Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Thapelo Maseko appeared to be Broos’ major drawback as Bafana battled to adjust to a system they are not familiar with.
BAFANA BAFANA ‘COULDN’T BE THEMSELVES’
Airing out his opinion about the Bafana game on his Instagram page, Ertugral feels that pumping long balls upfront was Bafana’s biggest undoing.
“The opening game at the World Cup disappointed all of us. My biggest criticism of Bafana Bafana is not the mistake that happened at a critical moment when it was vital not to concede. Mistakes happen. My criticism is that they couldn’t be themselves,” Ertugral said.
“The logic behind building from the back is clear, isn’t it? Every possession is valuable. If you play long from a goal kick, there’s a good chance the ball becomes a 50-50 challenge.
“However, my critique is that the opposition will always employ a high pressing line and block the middle. The question then becomes: how many times can you actually reach the final third when you are so obsessed with protecting the ball and keeping possession, especially in the first 30 minutes.”
BROOS’ BIGGEST MISTAKE: NOT BUILDING AROUND APPOLLIS AND MOFOKENG
Appollis came on for Modiba with 13 minutes remaining, while Mofokeng was an unused substitute. Ertugral opines that Bafana players were not cut for the system employed by Broos.
“Actually, the lineup chosen was simple. Play long! Play forward into a chosen zone and compete for the second ball,” Ertugral, who also coached Orlando Pirates, went on.
“For me, the biggest mistake wasn’t Ronwen’s misplaced pass. The biggest mistake was trying to play a game with a starting lineup that didn’t match the players’ tactical strengths.
“After all, if you’re going to spend most of the match defending deep and attacking spaces on the transition, why leave your best transition weapons on the bench?
“Furthermore, if you choose to abandon a transition identity that relies on players like Apollis and Mofokeng in favuor of a possession-heavy approach, you’re missing the point. Those are exactly the types of players you should be building the entire game plan around.”
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