Broos explains why he invited all 32 players before dropping six

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Broos explains why he invited all 32 players before dropping six
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Image: SAFA

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has lifted the lid on why he opted to call all the 32 players before he released his final 26-man World Cup squad.

Broos and SAFA have faced a backlash from some observers who feel they humiliated the six players who did not make the final squad as they stood there while their peers celebrated.

However, Broos says the decision was a way of forging togetherness as he believes in all the players but needed to make some tough choices.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos with his final World Cup squad.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos with his final World Cup squad. Image: SAFA

“I am a coach who believes very much in being a group,” Broos told the media on Thursday. “For me, there is no player who is above the group because one player can’t win a game, you will win a game with a group,” he stressed.

Why Broos invited all players at squad unveiling

“The group is not only 11, like today, it is 26 players. I wanted to keep this group together even in bad moments,” he further explained.

“For me, it would be worse for the players if yesterday afternoon I told them; ‘look guys, go home because you are not with the 26.’


“That should not be honest towards them and that is why I kept them together. They went to the event with the President and knew the decision there which was disappointing for them but they were still members of Bafana Bafana.”

Broos feels he made the right move by having everyone present when they met the President at the send-off dinner as it would have been the ultimate humiliation if he sent the six away hours before the meeting with the Head of State.

Bafana coach explains key decision

“That was solely important so I think even if it was a disappointment, and not a good moment for the players, they were here yesterday evening not saying you are out but just I am not with the 26,” Broos further stated.

Hugo Broos, Danny Jordaan, Ronwen Williams of Bafana Bafana - Image: SAFA
Hugo Broos, Danny Jordaan, Ronwen Williams of Bafana Bafana – Image: SAFA

“I think it was not so bad compared to if I should have said it yesterday afternoon and told them; ‘go home guys, you will not even go with us to the President.’ That is what I wanted to avoid and to let them feel that I was confident in them but then, I had to make a choice that had nothing to do with whatever, just making the choices.”

Kaizer Chiefs trio Brandon Petersen, Lebohang Maboe and Thabiso Monyane were among those who missed out as well as Patrick Maswangayi of Orlando Pirates, Brooklyn Poggenpoel of Durban City and Thapelo Morena of Mamelodi Sundowns.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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