Nobody knew Bafana Bafana - Hugo Broos

18.06.26 FT World Cup

Czechia

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South Africa

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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has fired back at critics following a one-all draw with Czech Republic in matchday two of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Thursday.

Teboho Mokoena salvaged a crucial point for South Africa as he scored from the spot in the 83rd minute to cancel out Michal Sadilek's opener, which came just six minutes after the first whistle.

While Bafana remain rooted at the bottom of Group A standings with one point, their knockout stage dream is still alive as they look to become the first generation to avoid a group stage exit at the global showpiece.

Meanwhile, having headed into the tournament and the Czechia match under immense pressure, Broos highlighted his achievements as Bafana boss which includes a third-placed finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast and qualifying for the ongoing World Cup.

“I don't think that [draw] will change something, so I don't have a message [for the critics], but what I said yesterday in the press conference. When you see the trajectory we did with Bafana Bafana five years ago, nobody knew Bafana Bafana,” said the Belgian mentor.

"I think we did it very well during five years and then suddenly the results are not what people expect, they don't think of are we able [to get results], no, they just expect things, and then you have the negative side of my job that they criticize you and want you to resign.

"Okay, I know that I'm nearly 40 years coach, so it's like water dropping over my body, so, for me they can write and tell what they want, I just do what I think I have to do, and I think that today I did what I had to do.

The veteran tactician was not impressed with Czechia's style of play in their encounter, stating that the Europeans heavily relied on route one football which is not so pleasing to the eye for any football fanatic.

“Czechia is a physical team, they don't really like to play football, the passing game, no, it's very straight. And they have the players for it, all players of 1,90m and taller and when you see our players there was one player of that height, that was [Ime] Okon in the central defence. All the rest are guys that are 1,80m and shorter,” Broos added.

"So, that means that for us it was very difficult with those high balls and it is what Czechia did, okay, it is also a tactic. I can't say why this or why that, this is the coach who decides that, and maybe if I was the coach of Czechia I would do the same thing.

"But I think if you like football, you'll like the game that we played today than the game of Czechia.

Bafana will now turn attention to their highly-anticipated must-win tie against second-placed South Korea on Thursday, 25 June. The match will staged at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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