‘Mentality has improved’: Broos hails Bafana progress

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is hugely impressed with Bafana Bafana players' mentality, saying it has improved dramatically from a year ago.

He believes the team could do better if they play against top-ranked sides on the continent regularly. Broos's team play friendlies against Namibia on Saturday (3pm) and DR Congo on Tuesday (5pm), both at Orlando Stadium.

Bafana, who shocked Africa's No 1 ranked team Morocco in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier three months ago, are on a seven-match unbeaten streak in which they've won five and drawn two. They qualified for the 2023 Afcon in Ivory Coast in January and February.

This month's two matches are part of Bafana's preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which start in November with their match against Benin, and the Nations Cup. 

“We've made a big progression if you compare it with a year ago,” Broos said before the Namibia friendly.

“The mentality is different. That's because of the players we have. Those players know they're coming to the national team and they're honoured to be here and they're hungry.

“They want results because they wanted to [be in the squad to] go to Afcon. They know for an African player it's the most fantastic thing to go to Afcon.”

Broos said he noticed his players' mentality shifting from late last year.

“I saw it from September when we played [friendlies in Mbombela] against Mozambique and Sierra Leone. There was a difference in mentality.

“And I think now if we were to play Ghana [who Bafana lost out to by goals scored and a contested penalty in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers] it would be a different game than what we played nearly two years ago.”

Broos has emphasised all week that the results against Namibia and DR Congo are secondary to giving a chance to players he hasn't yet seen. Those include French-based striker Lebo Mothiba and Pule Mmodi of Kaizer Chiefs, a late call-up in place of injured Themba Zwane.

He said he will have a greater emphasis on winning in next month's two preparation friendlies against Eswatini home [October 13] and Ivory Coast away [October 17].

“We know we have a plan. I said winning is not really important. I'm sure I can be happy if we lose having done positive things, certainly from the new players.

“For these two games I will look at the performances and results differently than next month's games, because those are important, given they are the preparation games for the World Cup qualifiers in November.”

The coach said knowing much about Bafana's opponents is not a major concern as his focus is on his players' performances. 

“They're two teams with different styles and I'm sure that, certainly Namibia, our neighbours, will try to do something against us. This is maybe already a preparation for when we have to play next year against Lesotho and Zimbabwe [in South Africa's World Cup qualifying group].

“Those will be games of the same style and teams who want to win against South Africa. Therefore it will be a good test also against Namibia. But we'll try to play our game and not be looking at Namibia.”