Bafana News Today: Broos identifies solution for Czechia, Ertugral and Manqoba question his tactics & more

Latest news about Bafana Bafana, including the area Hugo Broos wants sorted before the Czech Republic clash, plus pointed criticism of his Mexico tactics from Muhsin Ertugral and Manqoba Mngqithi.

Broos pinpoints where Bafana must improve

Hugo Broos has singled out the attack as the main thing to fix before South Africa’s second Group A match against the Czech Republic, set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 18.

The coach spoke after a difficult opener. Bafana lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Thursday and finished with nine men following red cards to Sphephelo Sithole and vice-captain Themba Zwane.

Broos felt the defensive plan worked and that the problems came further forward, where chances and final passes went begging.

“The organisation was perfect defensively, but offensively, I think we have to improve,” Broos said as quoted by FARPost while playing down fears over fatigue and the suspensions, pointing to the week of recovery before Atlanta.

Ertugral says Bafana ‘couldn’t be themselves’

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral was less forgiving. Posting his analysis on Instagram, he argued that Bafana’s biggest failing in Mexico City was abandoning their own identity rather than the late error that led to a goal.

His sharpest point was about personnel. Broos lined up with a back five, two holding midfielders and Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Jayden Adams behind strikers Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners. Oswin Appollis only arrived with 13 minutes left, while Relebohile Mofokeng stayed on the bench.

For Ertugral, leaving those transition players out made little sense for a team that spent the night defending deep.

“Furthermore, if you choose to abandon a transition identity that relies on players like Apollis and Mofokeng in favour of a possession-heavy approach, you’re missing the point. Those are exactly the types of players you should be building the entire game plan around,” he posted as per FARPost.

Manqoba reaches for a Brazil comparison

Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi made the same case in stronger terms. Speaking on SABC Sport, he likened Broos’s selection to Brazil walking out for a major fixture without Neymar Jr and Vinicius Jr.

“Because in the team that we had, we did not have creative players, and I’m talking Apollis, I’m talking Rele, I’m talking Moremi, I’m talking maybe Mshishi starting the match game, if needs be, though I would have thought Sebelebele, Appollis, Moremi should have played this game, and I believe they could have given us something, because the few minutes that Appollis played, it really gave us something to think about, and I knew when he starts playing, he always cuts inside into his right foot and cracks it,” he said as per iDiski Times.