Latest news with #BafanaBafana
IOL News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bafana's Broos urges caution as youngsters attract European interest
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has warned of rushing Relebohile Mofokeng to find a club in Europe. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media As Bafana Bafana gear up for their upcoming international friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique, national team coach Hugo Broos has voiced his support for three rising stars from Orlando Pirates looking to make their mark abroad. Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota (both 20), and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (19) have all impressed this season, earning spots in Broos' final 23-man squad. However, the seasoned Belgian tactician is urging caution when it comes to their potential moves to Europe. Mofokeng, a 20-year-old sensation, has become a pivotal player for Pirates, contributing significantly to the team's success across various competitions. Spanish giants Barcelona have reportedly expressed interest in both Mofokeng and Nkota, while Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly are believed to be monitoring Mbokazi. Bafana Bafana squad for the International friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique.#BafanaPride@SABC_Sport — Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) May 29, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Underpinning his impact, Mofokeng has netted 18 goals and provided 22 assists in 89 appearances, also securing several domestic trophies since bursting onto the scene. Broos has emphasised the importance of choosing the right club – one that offers regular game time and space for development. 'The only advice I can give to Mofokeng is that he must make the right choice. That's the only advice,' said Broos. 'Going to Europe is good, but try to make the right choice because if you go to a club where you don't have a chance to play, I think it's better to stay for one more year with Pirates. So, that's up to the player, his family, and his agent. I hope that his agent is looking at the future of the player and not his wallet.' Broos highlighted the crucial role agents play in guiding young players through these pivotal career decisions – particularly amid heightened international interest and the sensitive transition to senior-level football abroad. Reflecting on the case of Shandre Campbell (formerly of SuperSport United), who recently moved to Club Brugge in Belgium, Broos pointed out the risks of relocating prematurely. Though Campbell is not in Brugge's first team, he is gaining valuable experience in the Belgian second division. 'I see what's happening with Shandre at Brugge. He is not playing with the first team, but he is playing in the second division in Belgium,' said Broos. 'Brugge's second team is playing in the second division. That's the toughest division, I can assure you, and I'm sure that he is making progress too. That is the most important thing. "So, when I say 'choose the good club', it doesn't mean he has to play directly in the first team, but he must play at a good level. I hope that if all those players go to Europe, they go to the right club.' Shandre Campbell. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Hugo Broos sends a message to Kaizer Chiefs
All Kaizer Chiefs players will be watching Bafana Bafana on TV again. Coach Hugo Broos confirmed this after naming his squad to face Tanzania and Mozambique in two international friendlies next month. Bafana will host Tanzania, nicknamed the Taifa Stars, on 6 June at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The second game against The Mambas, better known as Mozambique, will be on June 10th. Unveiling his 23-man squad, Broos provided an interesting reason as to why Kaizer Chiefs players have been excluded from the calls. Kaizer Chiefs team vs Stellenbosch FC at the Athlone Stadium. Image: SuperSport Website 'For me, at the moment I don't think I can select Kaizer Chiefs players, and I hope that they have a better season next year,' said Broos via FARPost . 'Yes, they've won the Nedbank Cup, but I think that was the only highlight of their season; the rest was not so good. So I don't think Kaizer Chiefs supporters are happy with winning just the cup. 'We have to be honest, and I don't have anything against Kaizer Chiefs, but I have to be honest with my choices. 'Most of the time, it hasn't been good for Chiefs; otherwise, a team like Kaizer Chiefs can't be number nine. They have to be number three, two, or one. It's up to them to make good performances next season, and play like I expect of a top team,' Broos added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Khumalo to lead Bafana Bafana in Cosafa Cup
"This is another Bafana Bafana team and I'm happy, I'm excited," said Khumalo. The South African Football Association (SAFA) have confirmed Vela Khumalo will lead Bafana Bafana in the 2025 Cosafa Cup. The regional tournament will be held in Bloemfontein from 4-15 June 2025. ALSO READ: AmaZulu release Bafana Bafana goalkeeper – report Khumalo, who is also the South African U17 men's national team coach, will be assisted by Reneilwe Letsholonyane while Molefi Ntseki will serve as technical advisor. Khumalo said he was excited with the challenge of leading Bafana in Bloemfontein. 'We are looking forward to this tournament and we're playing at home, we're playing in Bloemfontein, and we cannot compromise the team. This is another Bafana Bafana team and I'm happy, I'm excited. We want to go through, and we want to win COSAFA (Cup),' Khumalo told SAFA media. 'I remember the last time we won it with coach Morena Ramoreboli when we were co-coaches, now it's me alone. I think this is the right time for us to express ourselves and show how we as South Africans are on the winning streak, and we are happy and in a good space,' added the Kaizer Chiefs Diski Challenge side coach. SAFA technical committee chairman Jack Maluleke said Khumalo and U20 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Raymond Mdaka were to lead the COSAFA team, but the draw and workshop for the U20 FIFA World Cup this week put paid to that plan. ALSO READ: Blom leaves Kaizer Chiefs as squad overhaul begins 'Unfortunately, coach Raymond is not around because he is attending the FIFA draw and workshop for the Under-20 national teams in Chile. So, we felt that we must give him a break because he was in Egypt at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (SA won the tournament and are the African champions) only a few days ago and after that he went to Chile to the workshop,' explained Maluleke. Meanwhile, Khumalo has announced his squad for the COSAFA Cup. Khumalo included Chiefs players in the squad. The five players are goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, defender Aden McCarthy, midfielders Thabo Cele and Mduduzi Shabalala and striker Wandile Duba. The full Bafana Cosafa squad:
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Vela Khumalo to coach Bafana Cosafa Cup team
Vela Khumalo has been appointed as Bafana Bafana coach for the forthcoming Cosafa Cup in Bloemfontein. He will be assisted by former Kaizer Chiefs player Reneilwe Letsholonyane with Molefi Ntseki as technical adviser for the regional tournament to be held from June 4-15. Khumalo, who is also the South African Under-17 men's national team coach, selected some of the players who were in Bafana's preliminary squad for friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique next week. He also picked players who will be considered to represent the country during the 2025 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August. 'We are looking forward to this tournament and we're playing in Bloemfontein and we cannot compromise the team,' he said.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Themba Zwane and Danny Jordaan played a key role in Hugo Broos deciding against an early resignation from his Bafana Bafana post
Broos might have not won the Afcon crown like Barker did 29 years ago, but he's made some great strides since taking over the reins. Earlier this month, Broos became the longest serving Bafana coach, surpassing the record of the late Clive Barker, who was in charge for exactly four years. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has revealed what made him make a last-gasp decision to not step down from his post after a torrid start. Broos led Bafana to a podium finish in the last Afcon - which was the first after more than two decades, qualified for back-to-back Afcons finals and is on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. But those nearly didn't come into fruition. Broos nearly resigned in the first few months of his five-year contract after being heavily criticised by all and sundry. 'No, certainly in the first year (it wasn't easy),' Broos recalled. 'I know that it is also your job (the media personnel) to criticise, but sometimes the critics were not fair. 'When you lose 5-0 against the world champions, it's not fair to criticise. You have to be smart enough to see this is normal, especially with an inexperienced team. 'But for many people it wasn't. They always referred to the 2010 World Cup when they beat France, but forgetting there was big trouble in the French team (then). 'We lost to Morocco 2-1, and we were criticised. And Morocco was fourth six months later in the World Cup, so that was not fair.' There was a time that the criticism became unbearable that the 72-year-old opened up to his then assistant what he thought of it and his future with the national team. 'I went back home after the first year, and I said to my assistant at that time Cedo (Janevski) that 'I won't go back. It's not nice what they are doing to me',' the Belgian explained. 'I came back, and said if things go on, in the New Year, I will go not back and things will be finished. Then suddenly, I selected (Themba) Zwane and things changed. 'The guy was 33 or 34 years old at the time. You couldn't build a future around that. But yeah, Themba is a talented boy and he helped us a lot. 'He came, and we selected a few other players. And suddenly why, I don't know, but boom, things were getting better and better till our lengthy unbeaten run.'
