Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained his decision to select uncapped Kaizer Chiefs left-back Bradley Cross in his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Belgian announced the 26 men he will go with to the global football fiesta in North America at an event at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday. While familiar faces dominated his selection, there was Cross and Philadelphia Union centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, who are the only uncapped players in the squad.
Cross has previously made Broos’ preliminary squads for different assignments, but not to make the final cut. His battle to be included in the final squads came as the Bafana coach stated his reluctance to have Chiefs players in his side due to Amakhosi’s then struggles in the Betway Premiership.
Now, the former Newcastle United youth player has been called up, while his Chiefs teammates Brandon Petersen, Thabiso Monyane and Labohang Maboe have been dropped after appearing on the provisional list. Cross has been picked to widen options on the left side of defence, where Broos also has Mamelodi Sundowns‘ Aubrey Modiba and Denmark-based Samukelo Kabini as other options.
Aarhus GF winger Gift Links, who was mainly being used as a left-back by the Danish Superliga champions during the just-ended season, has been overlooked in preference for Cross, who made 28 appearances in all competitions for Chiefs.
‘A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH MODIBA’: BROOS ON WHY HE ADDED BRADLEY CROSS TO BAFANA SQUAD
Broos says there is a problem with Modiba, which needs two back-up players at left-back, and that inspired his decision to also select Cross and Kabini.
“You know, we don’t call players because of the sunshine or something, no. We follow the players, and it’s a lot of work,” Broos told the media on Thursday.
“So, every Monday, Herman [Mkhalele Bafana assistant coach] and I are in the office, and we look at the list we have, ‘okay, who played? Did they play well?’
“Bradley was with us I think two years ago or something. He also suffered a little bit of the level of Chiefs in the last years.
“So, now, this year it gets better with Chiefs. We also still have a little problem with Modiba. So I had to look at that. Normally, there will be no problem for Modiba.
“But if there is a problem, we only have [Samukele] Kabini on the left side, and that was also a reason, not the reason, but that was also a reason why we took Bradley with us.”