Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has again defended his non-selection of Themba Zwane and Andile Jali, despite the latter’s five nominations for the PSL awards.
The Belgian tactician has continuously overlooked Zwane and Jali, despite many in South Africa believing they should be in the squad following their performances for Mamelodi Sundowns over the past two years.
Broos insisted that playing in the CAF Champions League doesn’t equal high quality football, in his view, with the football in Europe at a much higher quality.
“First of all, they don’t play continental football, they play African football,” he said during his announcement on SABC1.
“There is a difference, when you watch UEFA Champions League. When I watch the semi-final Bayern vs Villarreal and when I watch the semi-final Sundowns against Pretoria-or something.
“There is a big difference. There is also a difference when you play that kind of game and when you play Bafana Bafana. The players in Europe are playing a different championship.
“You can’t do everything, in my selection there are not many players who play in European championships but that is for the moment something that is not good for South African football – we don’t have enough players there [in Europe].
“All the teams that we play have players in Europe, look at Morocco.”
Broos also made a comparison to his decision to leave out Kaizer Chiefs defender Njabulo Ngcobo in his initial squad despite being named DStv Premiership Defender of the Season at the time.
“And secondly and don’t misunderstand me, last year when I selected my first squad, everyone was asking my ‘why didn’t you select ‘Njabulo Ngcobo, he is the best defender’ and look what to him at Kaizer Chiefs, he doesn’t play,” he added.
“Don’t focus on Jali has five nominations and Zwane has this, but I’m looking through them, I look through them.
“I said it from the beginning and I’ve said it now and I’ll say it in two years when I’m still here, I’m very sorry but I don’t see why I should select Jali or Zwane.”
Official: Broos Announces Final Bafana Squad
