“The Message Is Clear”: What Kolisi Told Bafana In Camp Ahead Of World Cup
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has kept the specifics of Siya Kolisi’s team talk under wraps, but the intent was clear: South Africa’s football stars must adopt a championship mentality to succeed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kolisi, a global icon who led the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles, visited the national football team in Durban on Thursday.
Currently based in the city with the Hollywoodbets Sharks, the rugby skipper shared words of wisdom as Bafana Bafana prepared for Friday’s 1-1 draw against Panama at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
How is Hugo Broos Preparing for Mexico?
For Broos, the visit wasn’t just about celebrity; it was about the psychology of winning. Broos, who represented Belgium at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, made it clear that motivation should be a given for any player eyeing a spot in the final squad.
“If I have to encourage the players to be selected for the World Cup, then there is something wrong with the players,” said Broos.
“I don’t speak about this and that, if you do this, I will drop you, no, no. But they all know that, and they showed [on Friday] what they have to do.
“That has to do with mentality, that has to do with discipline, something to do with quality and with attitude, and those things I’m observing them close.
“If some players or one of the players doesn’t have those qualities, then I will drop him because I know that it is important to be disciplined, that you have to have a good mentality and good attitude.
“When you don’t have it, you cannot have results. The boys showed on Friday what it meant when you have all this in your team.”
What went wrong at AFCON 2025?
Broos was blunt when reflecting on the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Bafana Bafana exited in the Round of 16 against Cameroon. He noted that the cohesion seen during their successful 2023 campaign had slipped.
“All the players have one focus – the team has to win and that was lost in the AFCON. Discipline, mentality, attitude, and quality were not there like it was before,” he insisted.
“We are putting everything in order for them to receive the message. That is okay, we have a good team.”
When is the final Bafana Bafana World Cup squad announcement?
This Durban camp serves as the penultimate evaluation period. Broos must submit his final 26-man squad to FIFA by 30 May 2026.
Bafana Bafana will face Panama once more at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town this Tuesday, marking the final chance for fringe players to prove their worth.
