Latest news with #Broos
IOL News
19 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
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Broos pleased with Bafana Bafana and PSL teams' continental strides
BAFANA Bafana coach Hugo Broos is pleased with strides made by local teams like Orlando Pirates who boast in their arsenal the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota. Photo: Backpagepix Hugo Broos is proud of the upward trajectory of Bafana Bafana and PSL sides' in Africa recently as he believes the two parties have had a beneficial relationship. The kings of continental football will officially be crowned in Cairo on Sunday night as PSL outfit Mamelodi Sundowns will be away to Egyptians, Pyramids. The South Africans are on a backfoot heading into the match as the hosts have an away goal advantage after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw last Saturday in Pretoria. However, whatever happens after the final whistle, Sundowns have already made the nation proud by marching all the way to the final for the first time since 2016. The Brazilians were not the only PSL team that flew the national flag high on the continent, though, as rivals Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch also made their mark. Pirates, of Mohau Nkota who also received his first Bafana call-up, and Stellies went as far as the Champions League and Confederation Cup semi-final in which they lost to Pyramids and Simba respectively. The trio's strides in Africa augurs well for the national team as Bafana aim to win Afcon for the first time in 29 years in December and are on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. But with Sundowns set to play in the FIFA Club World Cup next month in the US, Broos decided against calling up their players for the two friendlies in June. Bafana will face Tanzania at New Peter Mokoba Stadium on Friday in the first friendly, before hosting Mozambique at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium four days later in the last one. Broos' final 23-member squad for the two matches is largely made up of Pirates players, and that's why he's expected to start most of them in Polokwane - setting the tone for the friendlies. After all, Pirates - like Sundowns and Stellies - know what it takes to navigate the continent after their stellar strides in recent months. 'The reason why Bafana was doing well in the past 10 years is because most of the players were coming from the teams that played on the continent,' Broos, the Bafana coach, said. 'They had the experience of a level that is a little higher than the PSL, and that helped a lot. When I came here I had players that didn't have much international experience. 'So, we have that now - Pirates were close to playing in the final. We could have had a final between two SA teams - Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates. 'If you have that it means the progression that SA teams had in the past few years has been very good. 'And I also think the progress that Bafana had also helped the teams to achieve those performances and results (on the continent).' Sure, Sundowns' players will be absent from the camp, but Broos has emphasised that they'll always be his best players - that's why he declined a friendly against the No 1 ranked side in Africa, Morocco. Broos, though, will also be interested to see how his Mamelodi Sundowns' counterpart Miguel Caroso uses the talismanic and fan-favourite Themba Zwane in the next few weeks. Zwane recently returned from a lengthy injury, which was career threatening. As such, Cardoso has been trying to manage him, including benching him for the first leg. 'I can't judge now which level he's on,' Broos said of Zwane. 'So, maybe, it's a little bit too soon for him. So we will see what happens later. 'But again, when I see his talent and capabilities, I am sure that he can still help us (as the national team). 'Yes (I still believe in him), but he has to perform at the same level as before, and that is something I cannot judge now.'
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.
IOL News
3 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.'
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Broos warns three Orlando Pirates stars about moving to Europe
Bafana Bafana Hugo Broos says Orlando Pirates youngsters need to make the right choices if they decide to move to Europe. The 72-year-old has called eight Bucs players to his Bafana team, which will face Mozambique and Tanzania next month. The eight Pirates players include Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. 'The only advice I can give is, they have to make the right choice. That's the only advice, like Mbokazi has played 15 games for Orlando Pirates, going to Europe? Okay, it would be no problem, but you have to make the right choice,' Broos said. The experienced coach said the Bucs youngsters should only move if they are guaranteed game time. 'If you go to a club where you don't play or don't have a chance to play, I think then it's better to stay one more year at Orlando Pirates,' Broos added. 'So that's up to the player, his family, and to his agent. I hope his agent is looking to the future of the player and not to his wallet'. 'Let's hope that if they go to Europe, they will play there, Rele, Nkota, and all those they are saying might go to Europe, they will progress if they play there, so they will become better players. 'Look what happened with Shandre [Campbell] at Brugge, ok, he didn't play for the first team, but he played in the second division in Belgium, it's a tough division. I can assure you, and I'm sure he made progress, it's the most important thing. 'So, when I say they need to choose a good team or choose a good club, it doesn't mean directly they have to play in the first team, but they have to play and at a good level. 'I hope these players, if they go to Europe, because it's not the first time I hear many rumours of players going to Europe, and then nobody goes. Let's hope that if they are going, it's to the right club,' The Bafana coach concluded. With Mamelodi Sundowns players unavailable for June friendlies, Broos has picked most of his players from Orlando Pirates. The likes of Mofokeng, have been part of the coach's setup for over a year as he looks to blend in youngsters with experience. 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.
