How Hugo ‘Mr Cool’ Broos has transformed Bafana’s fortunes

Ronwen Williams has revealed how a cool, calm, collected Hugo Broos has helped Bafana Bafana regain the belief that has taken them to the top of their group in qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

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Bafana sit a point clear of Ghana heading into this week’s final two matches in Group G, with only the group winner earning a place in the play-offs for the five spots in Qatar late next year.

Broos’ side take on Zimbabwe at FNB Stadium tomorrow before taking on the Black Stars in Ghana on Sunday.

It is fair to say that not many would have predicted Bafana would be ahead of Ghana at this stage, given that Broos’ side came into this qualification campaign with expectations possibly at an all-time low.

South Africa did not manage to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, while Broos signalled his intentions from the start to build a young team, with one eye on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and even the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Bafana opened with a goalless draw in Zimbabwe, but followed that up with a brilliant 1-0 win at home to Ghana, to give them real hope. Williams explained how a video analysis session helped Bafana to turn their campaign around.

“After that game (in Zimbabwe), we did analysis, and as we were watching all the negatives he (Broos) stopped the video and said ‘I will tell you what your problem is, you don’t believe in yourselves. What you saw against Ghana, people didn’t expect that, but he knew we had it in us.”

Broos has been in the press a lot expressing his dissatisfaction with certain DStv Premiership clubs and players over a variety of issues. So it may come as a surprise that he is actually ‘Mr Cool’.

“I have learned from the coach, he is so chilled and calm and it rubs off on me,” added the Bafana captain, who has undoubtedly played much better in senior national team colours since donning the armband.

Broos, meanwhile, explains that calmness has always been a part of his make up.

“This is my character, I am not quickly upset or nervous,” said Broos.

“I know how important the Zimbabwe game is, but there are other things more important than football. That doesn’t mean I am not ready to go for the game, as a player I was also calm. Some players need to be nervous to perform but I am someone who was not good when I was nervous. Maybe it is an advantage for the team to have a coach who is calm.”