On X, one South African fan commented, “Are we having our own mini Slot Salah saga now?, These are the kinds of things we don’t need before such a big tournament.
“Hopefully, the young man apologises, and we move on swiftly to the AFCON,” he concluded.
Belgian head coach Hugo Broos, 73, has undoubtedly transformed South Africa since taking over from Molefi Ntseki in 2021.
Bafana Bafana finished third in the 2023 AFCON in the Ivory Coast under Broos’ tutelage and, even after being docked three points, still managed to finish ahead of Nigeria and Benin to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was the first time in 15 years that the senior national team would compete in the pinnacle of world football since it hosted it in 2010.
Times are soft for the South Africa senior national team now, after a continuous struggle from 2010 until Broos became the head coach.
When the Belgian named his 25-man squad for the imminent AFCON, he named nine players from the Orlando Pirates team, showing the confidence he has in Abdeslam Ouaddou’s scintillating side.
The team was due to reach camp on Tuesday, 9th September, and one of the Buccaneers envoys, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, 20, arrived late even after being given two more days off. He travelled to the USA to complete a deal with MLS side Chicago Fire, which got Broos angry.
Broos’ rant at a presser on Wednesday
“I will have a chat with him after training. And I can assure you, he is a black guy, and he will get out of my room as a white guy. Because I can’t accept.
“But I know why, I know why. Suddenly, Mboki is a star – he thinks he is a star! This is the attitude of a star: ‘I will decide when I come.
“I will explain it to him. I’m very angry, very angry about his attitude.”
Broos’ words have not been taken lightly by the Rainbow Nation. The big question now is, what exactly is he insinuating? Is he being racist?
Opinions are well divided now, whether Broos’ “he is a black guy and he will get out of my room as a white guy” comments are an idiomatic expression or not, in his home in Belgium. How is he going to explain it if it is a metaphor?
Many are calling it a sexist comment after he went berserk on the agent of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Basia Michaels, “A nice little woman who is his agent and thinks she knows football is doing what many agents are doing [and thinking]: ‘How much can I get?'” Broos said.
Broos criticises the Chicago Fire move by Mbokazi
“It’s not even a top team in America. If my info is right, he’s going to play in the MLS 2 for the second team of Chicago. I don’t know if it’s true; I’ll ask him when I see him. That’s even worse,”
UDM report Hugo Broos to the Human Rights Commission in South Africa
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) — a minority party within South Africa’s ruling coalition government — on Thursday announced it had reported South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for his unacceptable comments. Hugo Broos has been accused of playing the racist card and will face much qustions from the authorities.
Why Bafana Bafana need calmness
South Africa is unquestionably one of the most well-organised sides in African football. Hugo Broos does not have players with top European team profiles, but plays far better than most of the countries with such players. Having gotten closer to the trophy since 1998, Bafana Bafana need a serene and calm environment to compete because they have all the tools. Division should be the last thing the team should experience, with less than 10 days before the tournament.
South Africa will face Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group B of the 2025 AFCON. The group contains the most successful side of the competition, Egypt, but Hugo Broos’ side has every chance to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition. With Morocco and Senegal the overwhelming favourites on paper, Bafana Bafana can fancy their chances and must remain calm to spring a surprise.
