WATCH | ‘You don’t build a team randomly’ – Broos on the strategy behind Bafana’s World Cup spot

Broos

Cape Town – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos celebrated South Africa’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 victory over Rwanda, marking the nation’s first World Cup qualification in 23 years.

Broos, 73, credited the achievement to his players, coaching staff, and support team rather than taking personal glory.

“This is a fantastic evening for everyone, but it is not only about the coach.

“This is a team that has worked together for the past three years, and I can’t forget my staff because they helped me a lot, especially assistant coach Helman [Mkhalele],” he said.

“You know I like him very much, and without him, I would not have achieved this. There is also the medical staff, who worked day and night to have players ready to produce big performances.

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“The kit manager, the security manager, the team manager and the media manager — we are a bunch of people who had only one goal, and that was to bring good performances.”

He highlighted the importance of careful player selection, teamwork, and planning in turning around the team’s fortunes, including a third-place finish at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Broos, who will retire after the World Cup, said the qualification is a boost for the nation and hopes it will help players reach higher levels of competition.

“This is not for me alone, and I insist on talking about what the players have done over the past few years. I know you have not always agreed with the choices I made.

“I make my choices on different criteria than yours. For me it is important to have a player with quality, the right mentality and who can do what I ask him to do. Up to now, I have succeeded in doing that.

“You don’t build a team or have performances like that [randomly]. You need to have a plan, and you must keep to that plan. This is what we did over the past few years.”

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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