‘It’s Brooks, not Broos!’ Bafana’s young midfielder is making his own name

Bafana Bafana’s Ethan Brooks has revealed that he has had to put up with quips about whether he is related to Hugo Broos, given the similarity of the surnames of the South African head coach and his up-and-coming midfielder.

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“People keep making jokes to say ‘are you related?’” And I keep saying ‘No! It’s Brooks, not Broos!” said the 20 year-old TS Galaxy star this week, as Bafana prepared for their 2022 Group G Fifa World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in Bahir Dar today.

There is certainly no sign of nepotism in Brooks’ rise to prominence in a Bafana shirt, an outstanding display in helping South Africa to win the Cosafa Cup followed by an even better performance in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win at home to Ghana, where Brooks dominated the midfield against the Black Stars and was singled out for praise by Broos after the match.

The combative midfielder, with a superb range of passing, is perhaps the leading example of Broos’ commitment to playing a younger Bafana team, with the idea that the only way to give a young player experience, is to throw them in at the proverbial deep end and see how they perform.

It does seem likely that Brooks will get another well-deserved chance in Ethiopia, on the back of that display against Ghana.

“It is really exciting, to get another call up, and not just any call, for the World Cup qualifiers,” added Brooks.

“I am learning a lot. For my career, it is something I have always wanted.”

Brooks is clear about how he would like to improve in his contribution to Bafana, and that is being decisive in the attacking third of the pitch.

“For me, I would like to contribute goals, and if not goals, assists,” said Brooks.

“That is what I would like to improve on … if I get a chance to play.”

Brooks’ rise has been so swift that he is already eyeing a move to Europe, and if his comments are anything to go by, it may be that he and Broos have already been discussing the possibility of him moving to the latter’s native Belgium.

“My hope is just to continue doing what I am doing, to perform at the highest level, and hopefully to get a chance to go overseas. I am looking to go to Belgium, and if not to Belgium, to Italy or Spain. Yes it helps me (that the Belgian Broos is coach at Bafana), in terms of what it is like (there), the style of football, the culture.”