Now that the Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka’s blunder regarding Teboho Mokoena is water under the bridge, and that he will be joining the gravy train to the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2026 Fifa World in the Americas, coach Hugo Broos can focus on his next assignment – that of narrowing his squad from his big pool of players who are raising their hands.
It’s going to be a massive, nice headache for the Belgian silver fox. When he started his tenure, it was a big struggle for Broos to find players good enough to wear the green and yellow jersey and represent South Africa. He resorted to fringe players such as Ethan Brooks, Thibang Phete, Nyiko Mobbie, Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole, Veli Motha, Bruce Bvuma, Victor Letsoalo, Bongo Hlongwane, Siyanda Xulu and others to make up the team.
But Broos’ tenacity and confidence made the unfashionable players believe in themselves.
He turned them into a bunch of believers who dominated their group but missed the 2022 Qatar World Cup train by a whisker after they were hard done by some nincompoop referee in the last group match against Ghana in Cape Coast in 2021.
A new generation of players has emerged, and they are jostling each other for a place in the final squad that is heading to the Afcon in Morocco in December.
Except for a few regulars such as captain Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Khulisani “Sailor” Mudau, and maybe Mbekezeli “TLB” Mbokazi, lately, no one is guaranteed a place in the squad.
Competition for places is healthy, and those who are putting in the hard shifts at their clubs, have a good chance of getting the nod.
Back in the days, players from unfashionable clubs would hardly be considered, but under Broos, players from clubs such as Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy players, Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City, to some extent, regularly make the cut.
From winning bronze at the last Afcon in the Ivory Coast, Broos will be aiming higher next month. His team knows that there’s not much of a difference between bronze and silver – so they will be going for gold, the ultimate prize that Mzansi last won in 1996 on home soil.
Bafana fans want a new band of heroes, and that the history books be rewritten.
With three South African teams in the group stages of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup, the players are amassing invaluable experience competing in continental football. Mamelosi Sundowns have been carrying the flag in the last decade and were duly joined by Orlando Pirates in previous campaigns.
Kaizer Chiefs had been on a decline, but they are now showing some signs of revival. Stellies are a trusty conveyor belt of talent, and their forays in the Confed Cup have really benefited the country and the top clubs in the PSL.
Bafana take on Zambia, who have lost their shine in the last couple of years. Chipolopolo are no longer producing players with a fearsome aura, but it is a great opportunity for South Africa to clobber them and for individual players to fight for places in the Afcon squad, which may result in them playing at the Fifa World Cup next year.
A lot of great African players were not afforded the opportunity to play at a World Cup, for various reasons, and those who are within a shot must take their careers seriously and give it a go – it’s the stuff that dreams are made of.
