The South African Football Association (Safa) yesterday announced Hugo Broos as the new Bafana Bafana boss, ending their bungled month-long search for a new coach.
The Belgian former African Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon was yesterday tasked to lead South Africa to the 2022 World Cup after Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed the 69-year-old would sign a five-year contract.
Hugo Broos appointed Bafana Bafana coach https://t.co/2SOmyS9nRt
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) May 5, 2021
With Bafana’s opening World Cup qualifier less than 31 days away, Broos will arrive in Mzansi on Monday with his work cut out for him.
Motlanthe tells the SABC: “I engaged with other candidates, but this morning the NEC endorsed the name of Hugo Broos and that is our new national team coach.”
After negotiations with former Bafana coaches Carlos Queiroz and Pitso Mosimane failed, AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy looked like the favourite, even after Safa released a statement regarding the legendary striker’s candidacy on Sunday.
Motlanthe adds: “We put out the statement about Benni to clear up our position and not to… affect his relationship with his bosses, which is AmaZulu. Unlike other speculation, this one was taken as fact.”
Broos boasts international success after leading Cameroon to Afcon gold in 2017 – his first international job. However, he did fail to qualify them for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But he says he is to make Bafana a team Mzansi can be proud of – using young, hungry players.
He says: “South Africa has a rich football history and is among the powerhouse on the continent. I am coming to coach a truly football nation with massive potential.
‘’My main focus will be to weave in new players who have hunger and desire to achieve things. I need to start from there because I want to build a strong Bafana Bafana side for the future.”
Broos in short
Full name: Hugo Henri Broos
Date of birth: 10 April 1952, Belgium
Teams coached
Molenbeek, Club Brugge, Excelsior Mouscron, Anderlecht, Genk, Panserraikos, Trabzonspor, Zulte Waregem, Al Jazira Club (assistant), JS Kabylie, NA Hussein Dey, Cameroon and Oostende (sports director and caretaker).
Honours
Belgian First Division: Brugge (1991/92 and 1995/96) and Anderlecht (2003/4)
Belgian Cup: Brugge (1994/95 and 1995/96)
Belgian Supercup: Brugge (1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996)
Afcon: Cameroon (2017