Hugo Broos cut an emotional figure at the post-match press conference after Bafana Bafana secured their place in the last 32 of the World Cup, defeating South Korea in a result that silenced weeks of fierce criticism.
The 74-year-old Belgian, who has guided South Africa through five years of transformation, did not shy away from the personal weight of the moment when pressed by reporters.
“This is probably one of my last games as a coach… but you never know, certainly my last World Cup,” Broos said.
“The next one is in four years when I’m 78. I don’t think that’s an age to be on the bench. Certainly in those nervous moments, it’s not good for the health.”
‘The Critics Were Very Loud’
But sentiment quickly gave way to pride. Broos was emphatic that the victory belonged to a group that had been written off by many – including, he suggested, some who had never fully understood his vision when he arrived half a decade ago.
“There was a lot of criticism about not understanding what I was doing,” he said.
“Until the moment we started having results. I always had belief in this group, even the last few weeks, when the critics were very, very hard. But I never doubted them.”
That belief, he explained, bordered on certainty heading into Thursday’s fixture. “This group already gave me so much that I was nearly sure we’d get a good result today.”
On the pitch, that faith was visible. Bafana pressed, chased and scrapped for every ball against a well-organised South Korean side; and Broos knew exactly why.
“The guys were working and fighting for every ball because they also wanted to be in the second round,” he said.
“The combination between me as a coach and them as players is something unique. I’m the coach, and a friend. The relationship between me and the players is very good.
“I wanted to make a very good World Cup of this one, to end in beauty — and also for the guys. We started this journey five years ago. I’m so happy we achieved the next round.”
