Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, unveiled the final roster of 23 players chosen for the upcoming friendly encounters against Eswatini and Côte d’Ivoire, slated for next week.
Hugo Broos clears the air on leaving out Kaizer Chiefs players
The squad, notably devoid of any representation from the currently struggling Kaizer Chiefs, raised eyebrows and triggered a response from Broos during a media interaction.
The Belgian coach, known for his straightforward demeanour, elucidated on the omission by referencing the subpar performance of the Kaizer Chiefs in recent times.
His remarks, though candid, resonated with the reality of the Chiefs’ form, igniting a discussion amongst the football community.
“I think I’m too straight, I tell the things how they are… For example when I spoke about the players of Chiefs, everyone is angry because I said that but it is like that Chiefs don’t play good at the moment. So what did I say wrong?” he said.
Bafana Bafana 23-player squad to face Eswatini, Côte d’Ivoire
The friendly fixture against Eswatini is scheduled for Friday, 13 October 2023, with a kick-off time of 18:00, followed by an away game against Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.
These matches are seen as a vital part of Broos’ strategy to gear up the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) coming up in January 2024, as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers slated for November 2023.
The venue for the clash against Eswatini is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be announced in the ensuing days.
The assembly for the camp is set for Sunday, 8 October 2023 in Johannesburg, from where they will host Eswatini five days later.
The subsequent day will see the team jetting off to Abidjan for the face-off against Côte d’Ivoire, making a direct journey from Johannesburg. The return to South African soil is planned for 18 October 2023.
Here’s the full roster of Bafana Bafana players partaking in the upcoming international fixture schedule:
This roster reveals, particularly the absence of Kaizer Chiefs’ players, not only highlighted the current state of the club but also showcased Broos’ unyielding commitment to fielding a squad based on current form rather than past laurels or club reputation.
The upcoming friendlies are not just a test for the players, but also for Broos’ managerial acumen as he aims to fine-tune the team dynamics ahead of more significant continental and global footballing events on the horizon.