Broos Admits Biggest Blunder: Overlooking Bafana Bafana Star
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has admitted to making a significant error by overlooking key player Themba Zwane for the national team.
When Broos took over in May 2021, he deemed the squad that failed to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations to be too old, including Zwane.
However, Zwane continued to deliver impressive performances for Mamelodi Sundowns, even captaining the club after Hlompho Kekana’s retirement.
Zwane famously responded to the initial exclusion by saying, “Only fools don’t change their minds.” Broos eventually recognized the 35-year-old’s talent, acknowledging him as one of South Africa’s finest players.
Zwane played a pivotal role in Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, scoring twice against Namibia in the group stage. The team went on to clinch the bronze medal for the first time in 24 years.
Zwane’s outstanding form continued, with a brace against Algeria in the FIFA Series and a crucial goal against Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Unfortunately, Zwane is unavailable for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers due to a serious knee injury sustained against Congo last month.
“Themba is not only a good player but also a good human being. And when he came the first time to the team, I explained to him why he wasn’t with us from the beginning, and I think he is not a stupid guy. He understood it and maybe he had to say, also coach, maybe you were right at that moment,” Broos said.
“But I gave him full confidence from the beginning. I asked him to play in a certain way. Themba for us is the man who has to play between the lines.
“I’ll never tell him you have to do that and that. I just tell him, play between the lines and he’s intelligent enough to know where he has to run, what he has to do and support of the striker.”
Broos was speaking about Zwane as he announced his Bafana Bafana squad this week that will face Uganda away on 15 November and South Sudan four at DHL Stadium in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
A win in either match will secure South Africa’s place in next year’s AFCON finals.
