Bafana’s Blom explains Chiefs departure

Bafana Bafana midfielder Njabulo Blom is enjoying life in the USA, and hopes he can use his displays at Major League Soccer side St Louis SC to earn a move to Europe.

Blom joined St Louis in January from Kaizer Chiefs and has excelled in the US, working with St Louis head coach and former Bafana left back Bradley Carnell. The 23 year-old has made 25 league appearances for St Louis this season, helping them to lift the Western Conference title.

“I think it really is a stepping stone especially if you’re from Africa. It’s a good league and a good environment,” Blom told reporters earlier this week, while he also explained how he came to leave Amakhosi.

There was some surprise when the talented midifelder chose to walk out of Naturena.

“It was in November (2022), and I was still trying to figure out my next move because there were things with Chiefs that weren’t good – we were not in good terms in terms of my contract,” said Blom.

“My agent (Rob Moore) told me there’s a new team in the US they are kind of interested in me, and it might be a good move for me, a stepping stone to go to Europe,” he added

“I sat down with my mom and my dad, my family and we spoke about it. It was really a good move for me, especially to grow as a human being and move out of my comfort zone and find myself as a young adult. We finalised everything in December.”

Broos is with the Bafana squad this week, for friendlies against Eswatini on Friday and the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, having been recalled by Broos after missing the friendly games against Namibia and DR Congo last month.

First MLS goal

The Bafana head coach said last month that Broos was only getting inconsistent game time at St Louis, but since then he has barely missed a match and even scored his first goal for his new club, a brilliant effort from the edge of the box at Minnesota United.

He will now hope to force his way into the Bafana squad for next month’s Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, as well as for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, which will take place in the Ivory Coast early next year.

Bafana will play Eswatini at FNB Stadium, before travelling to Abidjan to play the Elephants, where they will get a taste of what the atmosphere will be like at the finals. The draw for the Afcon finals takes place today in Abidjan, meanwhile, and Bafana are seeded in Pot 3.