Hugo Broos responds to racism and sexism allegations after Mbokazi rant

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has addressed allegations of racism and sexism following comments he made during a recent media briefing in Pretoria.

The controversy erupted after Broos criticised defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent, Basia Michaels, while expressing frustration over the player’s transfer from Orlando Pirates to MLS side Chicago Fire FC and his late arrival at the national team’s training camp at the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre.

Broos was quoted saying:

“I will have a chat with him after training, and I can assure you, he’s a black guy and he will leave my room as a white guy,”
while also referring to Michaels as a “nice little woman” during his remarks.

SAFA Defends Broos Amid Public Outcry

The comments sparked widespread criticism and led to a formal complaint lodged by the United Democratic Movement (UDM) with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

In response, the South African Football Association (SAFA) issued a statement on Saturday, insisting that Broos’s remarks were misinterpreted and lacked any discriminatory intent.

“It is unfortunate that my strong rebuke of the player’s conduct and subsequent comments were misinterpreted as racism and sexism. I distance myself from any accusation of racism and sexism,” Broos said.

Language Barrier Cited

SAFA suggested that a language barrier contributed to the misunderstanding, stating:

“The coach’s frustrations were not fully or clearly conveyed during the interview.”

The association emphasised that in Broos’s four-year tenure, no issues of racism, sexism, or discrimination have ever been raised by players or staff.

Regarding the comment about the agent, SAFA clarified that Broos intended to highlight the importance of agents prioritising player welfare and long-term development over short-term financial gain.

Focus on AFCON

SAFA reaffirmed its full support for Broos, praising his role in transforming the national team and building its current strength ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

“SAFA, the players and the staff are all fully behind coach Broos, and we are now completely focused on our participation in the AFCON in a few days’ time,” the statement concluded.