Hugo Broos apologises for scathing assessment of local football

Hugo Broos has apologised for slamming local football standards and questioning local players’ quality.

The Bafana Bafana mentor was scathing in his assessment of the pool of players from which he had to pick the national team and the Premier Soccer League. His remarks, made at a press conference on Tuesday, were not well received by the South Africa Football Association [SAFA] president Danny Jordaan who said he would address the coach. 

The Belgian has since apologised, saying his intention was not to come across as disrespectful. According to SABC Sport, Broos told delegates at the South African Football Association’s extraordinary congress on Saturday: “I want to apologise if my declaration in the press conference last Tuesday was disrespectful against this nation. This was not my intention, certainly not.”

Broos, appointed Bafana coach in May last year, said “the only thing” he wanted was for SA football to improve. He further made a U-turn, saying the country is “on the right track” although “there is still a lot of work to do”.

The Africa Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon vowed that he would do his best to “make SA football better”. 

“We have to make it more professional – and I am just talking out of my experiences that I have. I am European, and in Europe, things are different than here in Africa. But I also have the African experience, I worked two years in Cameroon, and when I compare this country with Cameroon – the potential is 10 times more,” Broos said.

He added that it was a pity that South Africa did not have one of the best teams on the continent, something he thinks can be achieved in the next few years.

The Humbeek-born coach, who said Bafana’s 2010 World Cup appearance was a gift, is upbeat that the current crop can qualify for next year’s AFCON finals in Ivory Coast and the 2026 World Cup to be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026.

“I will do more than everything to qualify the team in September for Afcon next year. And I will do everything to be at the 2026 World Cup. I know the potential of this country…we can make it happen,” said Broos.

“But we need everybody in this country, not only me or SAFA – everybody who can help has to help us. I am sure we can succeed and bring South Africa to be present at every Afcon and take them to the 2026 World Cup.”