Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos opens up on Club Brugge rumours!

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has attracted interest from Club Brugge according to reports.

This comes after an impressive 2023 Afcon campaign, which saw Broos leading Bafana to a bronze medal finish.

That brought an end to a rather successful campaign for a Bafana side that left South Africa with little fanfare. Broos’ men started off in rather shaky and disappointing fashion, losing 2-0 to eventual group winners Mali. They would quickly dust themselves off by beating neighbours Namibia 4-0. They would conclude their group campaign with a 0-0 draw against Tunisia, securing second place.

That didn’t seem to do Bafana Bafana any favours, however, as they were pitted against Morocco. They equipped themselves well against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist, winning 2-0. Having knocked out the top team in Africa and the tournament, the confidence was high. What would be next was a brilliant Ronwen Williams penalty shootout performance to beat Cape Verde. 

Unfortunately for Bafana, it would be a penalty shootout that would knock them out next, losing to Nigeria. But at that point, they had already earned hero status back home, with Broos changing many perceptions about him. That also seemed to put him into the radar of former team Club Brugge.  Now speaking to the media at the Bafana Bafana squad announcement, he clarified those links. 

Broos explains why he wasn’t happy in South Africa

“To be honest, I doubted to go on with Bafana Bafana for several reasons. One of the reasons was my family. So I had a meeting with Mr Danny Jordaan, the president of SAFA, I think on Sunday. We played on Saturday for third or fourth place [at AFCON]. On Sunday morning, I had a meeting with him in the hotel [in Ivory Coast], and I explained my worries and my problems. So it was my family, and I think we have a solution to that. I will never spend two months here in South Africa without seeing my family. There is also the issue of the bad relationship with the PSL [and SAFA]. I think the solution is there now, so we’ll talk. That’s the only thing I asked.” Said Broos.

Broos then confirms things are now looking up for him and his Bafana future.

Fully committed despite Brugge links

“There were other things that I discussed with him [Jordaan], and I think we are the solution for that. So for me, the situation was good to stay in South Africa. So I’m here, and I stay here, but you never know what happens in football. What you say today can be the opposite tomorrow. But there is no intention to leave South Africa, even though there are rumours—and again, they’re only rumours. There was one concrete contact, but I refused it, so we will see. But for me, I think I will go on if nothing happens—I go on to 2026.” Said Broos according to FARPost.

That will be good news for Bafana Bafana players who will value the continuity with Broos heading into World Cup Qualifiers. Brugge will now probably have to look elsewhere for a new Technical Director.