Hugo Broos has made history by becoming the first coach to lead Bafana Bafana to the FIFA World Cup since Carlos Queiroz in 2001.
Since 2002, Bafana Bafana has failed to qualify for four consecutive World Cups, only participating in the 2010 tournament as hosts. Under Broos’s leadership, South Africa has emerged as a team to watch, particularly over the last two years.
Having been in charge for over four years, Hugo Broos is now the longest-serving coach in Bafana Bafana’s history.
No coach has previously managed the team for more than three years. Before Broos, Clive Barker held the record as the team’s long-serving coach, having led them for three years from 1994 to 1997.
The late coach, who hailed from Durban, famously guided the national team to victory in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. There are compelling reasons for the South African Football Association (Safa) to avoid forcing Hugo Broos out.
Historically, every coach who has helped Bafana qualify for the World Cup has not been the one to lead them in the tournament itself.
For instance, Clive Barker resigned months before the 1998 World Cup following a disappointing performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1997, while Carlos Queiroz stepped down in 2002 after Bafana exited in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Safa should respect Broos
With another tournament approaching before the World Cup, Broos should not be dismissed. A poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations should not place unnecessary pressure on him. Given that his contract expires next year and that he has already indicated intentions to retire after the World Cup, Safa should refrain from imposing any mandates on him.
Historically, Safa has been ruthless with winning coaches, as seen in the case of Shakes Mashaba, who was fired after a historic World Cup qualifying victory against Senegal in 2016. It seemed that Mashaba was on track to lead Bafana to Russia; however, Safa ultimately had the final say.
With Broos having won the nation’s admiration, he should be allowed to step down on his own terms. He deserves the opportunity to coach Bafana at next year’s World Cup; he has truly earned it.