South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced Belgian Hugo Broos as the new coach of Bafana Bafana.
The former Cameroon mentor is expected in the country next week where he is scheduled to meet soccer enthusiasts, members of the media, and other football stakeholders.
The highly decorated Broos replaces Molefi Nteski, who was sacked on March 31 after a poor showing at the 2022 Africa Cup of nations qualifiers. Broos expressed his excitement to take charge of one of the biggest brands on the African continent.
“I am very proud happy and very proud to be the new coach…South Africa has a rich football history and is among the powerhouse on the continent. The country has full of quality and I am coming to coach a truly football nation with massive potential” said Broos.
The Belgian coach who signed a five-year contract said he would prioritise rebranding the Bafana Bafana team such that it will make huge statement in coming major global tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup.
“My main focus will be to weave in new players who have hunger and desire to achieve things. Young players are ambitious and want to prove a point. I need to start from there because I want to build a strong Bafana Bafana side for the future,” he added.
Broos has coached Belgium’s top sides, Club Brugge, Anderlecht and Genk. He said the impending postponement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers from next month to September this year will give him more time to prepare his team for Qatar 2022 where Bafana Bafana are in the same group with Zimbabwe, Ghana and Ethiopia.
“This is a really exciting project and I am really excited,” he concluded.