SAFA Going Against Broos’ Wishes?

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JOHANNESBURG: Although the Belgian tends to shoot from the hip, he stands by his words.

Many people swallow their coughs because it makes others uneasy. One person who does not swallow his because it makes others uncomfortable is Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

The Bafana Bafana coach does not mince his words. Although the Belgian tends to shoot from the hip, he stands by his words. Fearlessly, Broos has said many things shared by many South Africans, but are afraid of proclaiming them aloud.

In his post-match conference following South Africa’s impressive win against Morocco in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the FNB Stadium, South Africa, in June 2023, he said that Bafana Bafana should only play top opponents thenceforth. Morocco, who have already qualified for the 2024 AFCON, finished fourth in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

‘’You must play against good opponents. With all respect, but don’t play against Botswana again,” he said. The outspoken Belgian went further to add: “We learned a lot of things when we won, but you know that this is not the level of Botswana. This is what we must do in the friendly games in September and October.”

Going against his wish, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has secured friendly matches with two countries that lie below South Africa in the FIFA rankings, namely Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on 09 and 12 September respectively during the FIFA break. The opponents are ranked 114 and 69 respectively.

To be fair to the DRC in particular, South Africa is not that much higher than them on the FIFA rankings, as they lie at 63. Although the two countries are poised to qualify for the 2024 AFCON, they are not what Broos had hoped for.

They are, however, ranked above Botswana at 147. While the benefit of the doubt can be given to SAFA that it could not secure top opponents because everyone is busy, the association had ample time to grant the coach his wish to prepare Bafana Bafana for the 2024 AFCON tournament and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Now one has to speculate as to whether the coach had a say on whom to invite for the two friendlies or they were foisted on him with a fait accompli. It is bothersome that SAFA went against the coach’s wish unless top countries do not want to play Bafana Bafana.