Broos hits out at Ahly, Sundowns over Bafana absences

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says he understands why Percy Tau is not available for the national team this month, but is also angry that the South African forward played for his Egyptian side Al Ahly on Sunday.

The Bafana head coach is also upset with Mamelodi Sundowns, after Thapelo Maseko was left out of the Bafana squad through injury, but then came off the bench to play for the Tshwane giants in Saturday’s MTN8 final defeat to Orlando Pirates. .

Bafana will play two friendly internationals, against Eswatini on Friday at Orlando Stadium, and against the Ivory Coast in Abidjan on October 17, that will form vital preparation for next month’s 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, and next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.

“I had contact with Percy last week,” said Broos.

“For family reasons he is not here with us. I understood it, on the other hand I am really not amused that he played yesterday with Al Ahly.”

Tau scored twice in a 3-1 win over Ismaily, and it must be even more frustrating for the Bafana head coach that he is in excellent form, with four goals in his first two Egyptian Premier League matches of the season.

As for Maseko, Broos said it was the second time in two Bafana squads that a similar incident has occurred with Sundowns..

“It was a surprise that the player is injured and suddenly plays, it was the same last month with (Khuliso) Mudau. I think we need better communication between the national team and clubs so we really know how much a player is injured and if he is ready or not to come.”

The Bafana head coach, who also has Bathusi Aubaas, Thapelo Morena and Innocent Maela out injured, had hoped to field a strong a side as possible in these two friendlies.

‘We don’t really achieve our goal’

“It means we don’t really achieve our goal, that we should have nearly the same selection that won against Morocco (in Bafana’s final Afcon qualifier in June),” added Broos.

“We were building to have a very good team, because we have World Cup qualifiers and in January we have the Afcon, but ok, it doesn’t run like I wished because of injuries.

“It is a very important period, the only positive thing is that (like) we saw in the past with many new players , we could judge if they were good enough or ready to be with the team.”