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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has openly stated his dissatisfaction with Kaizer Chiefs this season, mentioning that he “couldn’t find anything thrilling” in Amakhosi’s display during their 1-1 draw with AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.
Broos made these comments on Thursday while announcing his squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe (10 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium) and Rwanda (14 October at Mbombela Stadium).
No Kaizer Chiefs Players in Bafana Squad
In finalizing his team from the preliminary list, Broos chose not to include any players from Kaizer Chiefs, citing their unimpressive performances as the reason.
“I understand some might be upset with my decision, but I watched Chiefs play yesterday [Wednesday] and they didn’t perform well,” Broos told SABC Sport.
“What defines a chance? A shot on target? Maybe my standards are different, but I can’t say I saw a strong game yesterday. It was against AmaZulu, but that’s acceptable.”
The Belgian manager stressed his hope to see a significant enhancement in Chiefs’ attacking play, especially in the final third, before considering their players for the national team.
Broos on the State of the PSL
Broos also shared his perspective on the competitiveness of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) this season.
“I want to see more matches that showcase determination. At present, it appears that Sundowns aren’t as dominant as they were last year. Previously, it was anticipated that Sundowns would be champions again, but that’s not the current storyline. Teams like Pirates are excelling, and they have a strong squad.”
Chiefs’ draw against AmaZulu has resulted in them sitting fifth in the Betway Premiership standings with 15 points from eight matches.
Bafana Bafana Under Pressure in World Cup Qualifiers
While discussing local football, Broos is also facing challenges with Bafana Bafana.
Recently, South Africa suffered a deduction of three points from FIFA after fielding an ineligible midfielder, Teboho Mokoena, in their match against Lesotho in March. This decision granted Lesotho a 3-0 victory and pushed Bafana Bafana from the top of Group C in the CAF qualifiers.
With South Africa and Benin both on 14 points after eight matches, Bafana must win against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to keep their World Cup qualification aspirations intact.
In the African qualifiers, only group winners earn automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The four best runners-up will have another opportunity through a playoff round.
