Bafana Bafana legend Siyabonga Nomvethe has backed coach Hugo Broos to select the best players for the upcoming Fifa World Cup, while noting that hunger and experience will be key for the tournament.
Tuesday at 8pm marked the tick over to 30 days before Bafana get their World Cup campaign underway against Mexico in the opening game of the tournament at Estadio Azteca on June 11 – a repeat of the 2010 opening match in South Africa. Bafana will be underdogs, given that the co-hosts, along with the US and Canada, are set to have their 12th man behind them and superior depth.
Bafana are, however, expected to hold their own. The South Africans didn’t get to the tournament by chance; they finished top of their qualifying group, which included rivals Nigeria, while building on a foundation that had seen them qualify for back-to-back Afcons.
Broos’ Impact on Bafana
Bafana’s growth would not have been possible without Broos. The Belgian, who celebrated his fifth year as Bafana coach this month, has awakened a sleeping giant through hard work and discipline. According to the Fifa website, Broos has been instrumental in shaping the team’s strategy and selecting the right players for the job.
With Broos preparing to announce his final squad for the World Cup later this month, Nomvethe — a member of the 2010 Bafana squad — has backed the 73-year-old to select the best players for the job. “The coach knows his players, how he’ll select them and who is important in his team,” Nomvethe said, in an exclusive interview with Independent Media.
Striking Unit Concerns
Broos must select his final squad by June 1, with the congested local league concluding on 23 May. His troops are expected to assemble for camp on 25 May to prepare for a final FIFA international window, before the start of the World Cup. The Belgian emphasised in the last camp that he already had 70% of the squad selected, as he plans to reward consistent and loyal players. However, there have been concerns about his striking unit, which mainly consists of Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster.
Makgopa and Foster are almost identical, with their strength in holding up play and allowing frontrunners to cover space. They have also had below-par seasons: Makgopa scored six goals and registered two assists in 26 games, while Foster netted three times and assisted three times in 27 games. Some of the key players to watch include:
- Evidence Makgopa
- Lyle Foster
- Other potential strikers in the league
For more information on the World Cup schedule and teams, visit the South African Football Association website.
