No blues for Broos as he announces Bafana squad.

Bafana Bafana boss, Hugo Broos, has announced his preliminary squad for the final AFCON qualifier against Morocco on June 17 at FNB Stadium.

With both sides having already qualified for Ivory Coast 2024, the match will give Broos an opportunity to begin his preparations for the final tournament early.

While the squad includes mostly the usual suspects, with Broos possibly looking to maintain some consistency, one glaring absentee from the squad is Burnley forward, Lyle Foster.

Among the new faces, the squad includes Iqraam Rayners who has been a revelation since returning to Stellenbosch FC, Given Msimango from TS Galaxy, and Kobamelo Kodisang, a player whom a lot of mzansi's football supporters have been calling for.

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Broos will announce his final squad early next month, but before that, a mini camp will be held from May 31 to June 7, and it will give Broos enough time to prepare and make a decision on his final squad.

Bafana Bafana 34-man preliminary Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu FC)
Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United)
Melusi Buthelezi (TS Galaxy)

Defenders:

Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune United)
Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns
Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Given Msimango (TS Galaxy)
Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates
Nkosnathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates)
Siyanda Xulu (Toran Tovuz)
Taariq Fielies (Cape Town City)
Grant Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Aubrey Modiba(Mamelodi Sundowns)

Midfielders:

Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Bathusi Aubaas (TS Galaxy)
Njabulo Blom (St Louis City)
Grant Margeman (SuperSport United)
Miguel Timm (Orlando Pirates)
Sphelele Mkhuilise (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Luke Le Roux (Varberg BoiS)
Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Thapelo Maseko (SuperSport United)

Forwards:

Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates)
Zakhele Lepasa (SuperSport United)
Cassius Mailuila (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Kobamelo Kodisang (Moreirense)
Khanyisa Mayo (Cape Town City)
Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limissol)
Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minessota)
Percy Tau (Al Ahly SC)
Pule Mmodi (Lamontville Golden Arrows)
Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC)

Now that Bafana have qualified for AFCON, let Broos finish what he started.

Bafana coach, Hugo Broos. Image credit: Lorenz Kohler Social Media. 

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, ditched sophistication in favor of efficiency to ensure that his side beat Liberia 2-1 on Tuesday at the
Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

The crucial victory, achieved through a work-men like performance, booked Bafana a place at the 2024 AFCON to be hosted by Ivory Coast in January.

The weight of the match, and the conditions it was played under, saw Bafana enjoying only 37% of the ball, 10 goal attempts and four shots on target, with two of them converted to goals by Zakhele Lepasa 19' and Mihlali Mayambela 53'.

Despite a not so easy on the eye performance, Bafana managed to keep Liberia at only two shots on target, although they enjoyed the lion's share of possession, 68%, and 13 goal attempts.

Ugly win, yes, but very important. Sometimes in football, beauty is just an aesthetic.

Now that we have qualified, it is time to get down to some serious business for Broos and SAFA, that of ensuring that we have a strong, well prepared Bafana team for Ivory Coast 2024.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/even-in-saudi-arabia-they-can-earn-a-lot-of-money-says-mosimane-to-south-african-players/

Expecting Bafana to go and challenge for the title would be an illusion, we are maybe 10 years away from really putting up a strong continental challenge, but we can compete.

Friendlies against strong opposition will be key for the team. And maybe it is time for Broos to be more consistent with his selection, which will help with the synergy amongst the players.

At best, the AFCON 2024 participation will do wonders for Bafana's chances to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Honestly, we can't expect miracles from poor ol' Broos, considering the players at his disposal, but we can expect better than the embarrassments of the past.

A World Cup qualification, Broos, our good Sir, please. 

We can't rely on a pensioner - Mammila on Broos.

Image: Facebook

Swallows FC Technical Advisor, Morgan Mammila is known for not being afraid to shoot from the hip.

The former Chippa United was at it again, calling Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, a pensioner that cannot be relied on to lead the national team back to its former glory.

"How on earth can we rely on pensioners to do a better job than young smart coaches," Mammila said on social media as quoted by goal.com https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/mammila-lunges-into-pensioner-bafana-bafana-coach-broos-we-are-testing-poison-with-our-tongues/blt094fad8090360bc9

"We testing poison with our tongues as South Africans. I saw signs of failure in this coach and people thought I was crazy and clueless."

It is not the first time Mammila has taken a dig at Broos.

During the Qatar 2022 World Cup, while singing Morocco's praises after they made history by being the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, Mammila said Bafana need a younger coach if they are to emulate Morocco, not a 70-year-old pensioner.

"We want to go back to the old Bafana Bafana. We are tired of excuses now. Only young and local national team coaches will do well in their country," he tweeted.

"We must not shy to copy what is working from [the] national team of Morocco and other African countries, who were in the World Cup. A 70-year-old pensioner must stay at home."

Like many South Africans, Mammila has been advocating for Al Ahli Saudi coach, Pitso Mosimane to be recalled to lead Bafana Bafana.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/al-ahly-were-poor-under-mosimane-says-mortagy/

Broos will be hoping for a win away in Liberia on Tuesday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, which will see Bafana qualify for Afcon 2024 in Ivory Coast.

Failure to qualify will be yet another disaster for South African football, with Bafana having failed to make the last Afcon edition in Cameroon.

Mosimane runs the rule over the Broos.

Al Ahli Saudi coach, Pitso Mosimane. Image: Twitter

If there is a coach who is fearless when it comes to speaking his mind, it is Pitso Mosimane.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly SC coach, who is currently based in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli Saudi, has said his piece on Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos.

Broos, who is also prone to shooting from the hip, is under deep scrutiny after his Bafana side gave away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Liberia.

Mosimane has come out to say that he is taken aback by the things said by Broos.

"Sometimes our coach says what he wants to say, any time any day, I listened to a voice clip [on Wednesday], he said that he’s responsible for AFCON but nobody must blame him for the World Cup [failure]," Mosimane said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/bafana-bafana/mosimane-on-broos-sometimes-coach-says-what-he-wants/

"I think when you are a national [team] coach, it’s AFCON and the World Cup hey, so maybe he was told that he’s not responsible for the results of the World Cup, I mean how do you say that – I don’t why he said that.

"But anyone, I think Coach Broos has done well by unveiling young players and all that at the beginning of course, it’s a little bit different now, Themba Zwane is back, Percy [Tau] is back, which is good – I think we will qualify for AFCON, we only need four points.

"I’ve seen Liberia play against Morocco, in Morocco, we will qualify. But sometimes coach Broos says whatever he wants to say, I get taken aback and as a South African citizen and as a coach, sometimes."

While Mosimane conceded that the things uttered by Broos to the media could reflect his personality, he believes the Belgian mentor has no excuse not to lead South Africa to the next world cup.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/are-swallows-hoping-for-a-four-match-winning-streak-from-mammila/

"But that’s his own personality and philosophy and how he looks at our country, I don’t know – what’s important is focusing on results, take us to AFCON, very well that’s what we want and we have no excuse not to make the World Cup, the next World Cup? I mean it’s’ nine countries, I mean how can we miss that? We won’t miss that."

Incidentally, South African football fans believe Mosimane should be recalled to lead Bafana Bafana, with no more faith shown in Broos after the Liberia saga. 

Stubborn Broos can't be moved from his Mailula overseas move stance, but, what if he be right?

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has remained adamant on his views about Cassius Mailula's readiness to ply his trade overseas.

The Belgian believes Mailula still needs to gain more experience, especially through Caf Champions League football.

"When I look at him, his behavior in the group is very good," the Belgian tactician said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/broos-praises-mailula-but-maintains-europe-stance/

"He’s a guy that has his two feet on the ground, but there are a lot of things to do about him. He’s a young player that is scoring goals at Sundowns when he wants, and that is very cool.

"So I like that very much."

"Secondly, I said it already a few days ago when somebody asked me if he’s ready for Europe, I’ll repeat again, no, Mailula is not ready for Europe.

"He needs to gain more experience and therefore I hope for him that he stays at Sundowns and plays again in CAF Champions League next year. But his experience is also good. But he has something already now that is very important, he is scoring.

"Once he is in the 16 area and he gets a chance, it’s a goal. He has it already. But if he can have a little bit of experience by playing good games, games of high level, I think we can have a very good striker, certainly."          

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/does-notoane-really-believe-his-under-23-side-can-win-in-congo-like-really

Why Broos could be right about Mailula:

Cassius's football talent is beyond any reasonable doubt, he is a top footballer with a lot of highly sought after qualities in modern football.

His talent alone, if it was all that matters in football, can take Mailula to the best leagues in Europe.

Unfortunately, talent is not enough.

For Mailula to succeed in the European game, he will need his mental muscles to be as strong as his physical ones.

To develop those strong mental muscles, Mailula needs to be tested more in highly demanding games, and for now, he can get such experiences in the Caf Champions League.

With Sundowns also set to take part in the Caf Super League, Mailula will have more opportunities to test himself under extremely difficult conditions, which will develop his mental strength, something you can't survive without in Europe.

Broos's opinion might be unpopular, as country, we are desperate to see our best talent playing abroad, but he could be right.

Another season with Downs in the CAFCL, coupled with more Bafana caps, can do Mailula a world of good before he moves abroad.

If he goes now, and he finds the going tough, the very same people who say he is ready, will be on his back, calling him a flop!

Maybe, just maybe, Broos is right.

Image: Twitter