Hugo Broos
Johannesburg — Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos disclosed his final 23-member squad heading to participate in the FIFA Series international friendlies pilot project. These matches are slated to be held in Algeria from the 18th to the 26th of March 2024.
The FIFA sanctioned event presents a fresh opportunity for the national team to integrate new talent, as the coach made evident in his address to the media. Broos stated, “Certainly, I am also looking to the future. I said it already, there are a few players in our group who will be 35, 34, 36 when the FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America in 2026.”
Broos highlighted the dual purpose of the upcoming international fixtures, “Firstly, we have to see those games as an opportunity to give new players, younger players, to show if they are at Bafana Bafana level.” He went on to assert the strategic nature of the matches in providing exposure to various playstyles that will aid in honing the squad’s versatility.
The coach’s insight into the opponents underscored the distinct challenges each would present. “On one side you have Andorra and you can compare them to Namibia. So, a tough team, a team who will wait and try to be dangerous in transition,” Broos commented, acknowledging the first adversary’s analogous playing style to a familiar local opponent.
Broos further elaborated on the value of the encounter with Algeria, placing importance on the caliber and ranking of the North African outfit, “On the other side you have Algeria, ranked fifth in the CAF rankings. So that means you have two different styles, and it is good for the South African senior men’s team, certainly also to play against Andorra, but certainly to play against such a good team like Algeria.”
Anticipation surges as he recognizes Algeria’s recent changes, “They have a new coach, they will have new players also in their selection. So, it will be a good test for those new players who are with us to prove themselves.” With a clear view of the upcoming contests, Broos places emphasis not only on squad development but also on results that could influence South Africa’s position in the continental hierarchy.
