Is Broos coaching Bafana Bafana from Belgium?

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’s latest trip to his country of birth has set tongues wagging, with some accusing the 69-year-old of spending too much time abroad.

A day after Bafana’s famous 1-0 triumph over Ghana in the World Cup qualifiers at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium last week, Broos left the country for Belgium. It’s the second time he has visited his homeland while at the helm of Bafana, having gone there to get a Covid-19 vaccination shortly after being appointed in May.

Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe maintains there’s nothing sinister with the Bafana coach’s recent trip to Belgium.

“The coach is in Belgium to sort out his work permit and there’s nothing untoward there. He’d applied for a temporary work permit and it has since expired ... now he’s forced to apply for another one,’’ Motlanthe told Sowetan.

Everything should be finalised in a week or two. People must understand the laws ... you can’t stay without a work permit while you’re here to work.

—  Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe

“Remember, the coach signed a five-year deal, so he must have the right papers to be in the country for that duration. We’re in contact with him and home affairs. Everything should be finalised in a week or two. People must understand the laws ... you can’t stay without a work permit while you’re here to work.”

Bafana’s next task is back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia on October 6 and four days later — away and home respectively. Broos’s charges top Group G with four points, having drawn against Zimbabwe and beaten Ghana in their two opening fixtures.

Broos suggested some of the players who featured against Zimbabwe and Ghana may not be called up for the Ethiopia double-header, citing poor quality and bad attitude, among other factors.

“I can tell you now that some guys will not be there any more. For some it is because of quality, for some it is attitude, for some it is what I saw in training, because this is also important. Therefore, for the games against Ethiopia, some players will not be part of the squad any more,’’ Broos said.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana appear to be on the brink of a goalkeeper crisis, due to the dominance of foreign shot-stoppers in the Premiership

As things stand at Mamelodi Sundowns, Ricardo Goss won’t play ahead of Ugandan Denis Onyango and Zambian Kennedy Mweene. The 27-year-old Goss had already established himself as a Bafana player during his days at Wits, but his lucrative transfer to Chloorkop came at a price, as he’s now nowhere near wearing the Bafana shirt.

Goss may be seen as a long-term replacement for Onyango, 36, but with Mweene, who is the same age as Onyango, ahead of him in the pecking order, it paints a grim picture of him playing any time soon.

AmaZulu’s first-choice keeper Veli Mothwa, 30, is already a Bafana player, which means highly-rated Neil Boshoff must find a new club to enhance his chance of playing for the national team. The 25-year-old Usuthu keeper is talented enough to be No 1 elsewhere, even if it’s in the GladAfrica Championship for time being.

With Zimbabwean international Washington Arubi showing no signs of slowing down, King Ndlovu’s chances of claiming the No 1 jersey at Marumo Gallants look slim at the moment. Former Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki admitted he was monitoring Ndlovu’s progress before he was replaced by incumbent Broos. At 28, Ndlovu should be at the peak of his career, playing first-team football.

When Cape Town City parted ways with Dutchman Peter Leeuwenburgh before the end of last term, many said it was time for the young Marc Anderson to step up. However, the Citizens decided to recruit 35-year-old Angolan keeper Hugo Marques instead, minimising the 23-year-old’s chances of playing regularly. Anderson is the son of former Bafana keeper Mark Anderson.

Before the sudden resurgence of Sifiso Mlungwana, who was recently warned by Broos to shed some kilos to feature in Bafana’s plans, Nkosingiphile Gumede was Golden Arrows’ first choice. The 27-year-old now finds himself behind three keepers at Arrows, with Namibian Mlungwana, Maximilian Mbaeva and newcomer Siyabonga Mbatha ahead of him. Gumede is a former under-23 international, meaning he’s no stranger to the national team set-up.