Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has apologised for criticising the country’s football standards and questioning the quality of players at his disposal.
Broos’ remarks, which he made at a press conference on Tuesday, irked South Africa Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan who said he would address the coach.
The Belgian has since apologised, saying his intention wasn’t to disrespect South Africa, reported SABC Sport.
Addressing delegates at the South African Football Association’s extraordinary congress on Saturday, Broos said:
I want to apologise if my declaration in the press conference last Tuesday was disrespectful to this nation. This was not my intention, certainly not.
He also retracted his criticism of Bafana Bafana saying the country is “on the right track” although “there is still a lot of work to do”. Said the Belgian:
We have to make it more professional – and I am just talking out of the experiences that I have. I am European, and in Europe, things are different than here in Africa.
But I also have the African experience, I worked for two years in Cameroon, and when I compare this country with Cameroon – the potential is 10 times more.
Broos said Bafana Bafana are capable of qualifying not only for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals but also for the 2026 World Cup. He said:
I will do more than everything to qualify the team in September for Afcon next year. And I will do everything to be at the 2026 World Cup. I know the potential of this country…we can make it happen.
But we need everybody in this country, not only me or SAFA – everybody who can help has to help us.
I am sure we can succeed and bring South Africa to be present at every Afcon and take them to the 2026 World Cup.