Broos Rules Out Game Time For Young Duo
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that it’s not yet the right time to give young duo Tylon Smith and Shandree Campbell game time in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The young players had a breakout performance with Amajita in the U20 COSAFA Cup last year, with Smith helping the team win the U20 AFCON and reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup this year.
Unfortunately, Campbell was unable to participate in the U20 AFCON and U20 FIFA World Cup due to Club Brugge not releasing him to represent the national team.
The 20-year-old players, who are part of Broos’ 25-man squad, have been impressing in training, but the coach is not convinced that they are ready for the big stage.
“In my language, they say you don’t have to throw someone in for the lions,” Broos said.
“We don’t have to throw them to the lions. That shouldn’t be good for the guys.
“I think for those two guys, for Tylon and for Shandree, it’s already fantastic that they are with us.
“And also, in training, you see that they’re doing well, but there are some moments or some things in football that they still have to learn.”
Broos acknowledged that if Bafana had won against Egypt on Friday, they might have been able to give the young duo some game time against Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday.
However, the 73-year-old mentor believes that giving the QPR and Club Brugge youngsters a starting role on Monday would be too much for them at this stage.
“It’s a pity that if we had won on Friday against Egypt, we could have maybe given them time (against Zimbabwe),” he added.
“But I think a little bit about what would happen if I put those guys in the team on Monday from the beginning, for example, or to change something. They are not ready for that for the moment.
“But what they learn now during the weeks they’re together with us will be good for Bafana Bafana for the next months, and maybe already for the World Cup, we will see.”
With Bafana’s focus on Monday’s match against Zimbabwe, it’s clear that Broos is prioritizing the team’s short-term goals over the development of his young players.
