Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says it’s imperative to establish an U23 national team set-up every FIFA international break to fast-track the likes of Tylon Smith and Shandre Campbell into the senior set-up.
Broos has expressed his delight in the recent progress of the U17 national team currently in the FIFA World Cup and the U20 Africa Cup of Nations winners also partaking in the global event this year, with an impressive talent pool now at the country’s disposal.
In years gone by the conversation rate from the junior national team to seniors has increased but not quick enough, however the current squad is dominated by former youth internationals, which has increased now with the call-up of Keletso Makgalwa.
The Belgian coach says it’s important for players to have a taste of international football at any level to not be overawed by the first time experience of the level of the senior national team.
“It’s important and I always speak on international experience, for them, those who were already at World Cup or an AFCON with the [youth teams] they have that already, but you have to continue,” Broos said.
“You have a base, U17 who is in the World Cup, you have U20 who won AFCON and was in the World Cup but now you have the next step that has to be done. If you don’t go on working with these guys, all that talent will be lost as quick as you can think.
“So, you have to go on working with them and give them their chances in the next months and years for Bafana Bafana – because before they are with Bafana, before training with Bafana, we won’t know if they can make the next step.
“So, the advantage we may have now, that we didn’t have before – is that we have a pool of players who have good experience in the youth level, so it’s up to us to go on working with them in the next months and next years. Then the future of Bafana is very bright.”
With calls for the likes of Fletcher Smythe Lowe, Shandre Campbell and Tylon Smith to potentially be blooded in for the future, Broos says he feels it’s too early for some.
“There’s talent, but you have to also be careful, you don’t call them too soon, I can’t call Lowe or Smith or Campbell with the national team going to AFCON, it’s too soon, I can kill those guys, and I don’t want to do it because the talent is there. So, it’s up to them, not to us, to give them their chances in the next months, to get that higher level of international experience,” he explained.
“So, it’s very important to create the U23 team, and every FIFA break, organise games for this U23 team – and give them that experience that would make the processes progress quicker than ever, so there’s a lot of work to do I think.”
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