Hugo Broos: South African Coach Casts Doubts on Bafana Bafana Coach Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Brandon Truter has explained why Hugo Broos shouldn't lead Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their woeful outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
• The former Richards Bay mentor went on to mention two South African coaches he feels are capable of leading the country's men's national team
• The Belgian tactician has already confirmed he won't resign as he's focused on managing Bafana Bafana at the World Cup in North America later this year

Former Moroka Swallows and Richards Bay manager Brandon Truter has questioned whether Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is the right choice as the team heads toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana’s journey in the Africa Cup of Nations ended abruptly in the round of 16, following a 2-1 loss to Cameroon. They started the competition well with a win over Angola, but they got beaten by Egypt in their second group game before securing a place in the knockout stage by beating bitter rivals Zimbabwe.

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Truter wants Broos out of Bafana Bafana

Truter has raised concerns about whether the upcoming World Cup in June might be too demanding for the Belgian coach, who would be 74 at that time. He feels South Africa could benefit from a fresh spark to energise the squad, especially from the bench.

"How old is he now? We still have Pitso Mosimane and Rulani Mokwena, who are fully capable of leading this team. Pitso has developed tremendously, proven himself, and has experience across the continent and the world," Truter told the Siya crew.

"And Rulani continues to demonstrate that he ranks among the best. At the World Cup under Broos, I fear we might struggle; the AFCON showed our vulnerabilities.

"Some serious internal reflection is needed. After our AFCON exit in the last 16, the question becomes: can we progress from our World Cup group? The World Cup is an even bigger challenge," he added.

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Truter wants SA coaches for Bafana

The South African coach has made his opinion clear that he wants to see a local manager being allowed to lead the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"Hugo Broos is a solid father figure and handles the team well—it's clear the players respect and like him—but on the sidelines, the energy he gives seems limited," he continued.

"Most of the time, he only reacts when we score, or there’s a VAR decision. There’s little vocal leadership coming from the bench. Helman Mkhalele is also humble and kind, so it’s not a criticism of him."

"I would like to see a local coach given the chance at the World Cup. We’re often underestimated and not given the benefit of the doubt. Look at the top three clubs—Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs—over the past decade, local coaches have claimed the league title eight out of ten times," concluded the former Sekhukhune United coach.

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Broos warned against public criticism

Briefly News also reported that Broos was warned against public criticism after Bafana Bafana were knocked out of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The former Cameroon national team coach made some comments about the tournament before their game against the Indomitable Lions, and it was used against him after South Africa crashed out of the competition.

Source: Briefly News