Hugo Broos already making excuses for Bafana not qualifying for 2022 World Cup

In his first press conference since his appointment as the newest Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos has already made excuses for the national team in case they fail to qualify for the 2022 Soccer World Cup in Qatar. 

GALLERY | SAMIR NURKOVIC IS IN LOVE! SHARES PICTURE OF MODEL BAE

Hugo Broos addressed the media at the South African Football Association’s (SAFA’s) headquarters in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 12 May.

The 69-year-old, who succeeded Molefi Ntseki as coach, was already pleading for patience even before he starts his tenure. 

Bafana Bafana will play two friendlies in June against unconfirmed opponents and Broos’ assistant coach Čedomir Janevski – and a yet-to-be-named South African assistant coach – will oversee the two matches.

WATCH | BERNARD PARKER LOSES HIS TEMPER WITH TEAM-MATE SAMIR NURKOVIC

Čedomir Janevski will arrive in the country next week as he is still coaching in Cyprus.

After Ntseki parted ways with SAFA, the identify of Broos’ second assistant remains a mystery although it has been suggested the man to be appointed will be current SA Under-23 coach David Notoane.

Ntseki was axed after he failed to lead Bafana Bafana to qualification for next year’s delayed Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cameroon.

READ | KAIZER CHIEFS: HOW LOW CAN THEY GO, HOW HIGH CAN THEY CLIMB IN DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG

Qualifying for next year’s Soccer World Cup will be a lot harder.

Bafana Bafana have been drawn in Group G alongside Ghana, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

All three of those opponents successfully qualified for AFCON 2021.

READ | PITSO MOSIMANE IN HOT WATER AT AL AHLY AFTER ‘HATE SPEECH’ FINE

In order to qualify Bafana Bafana will have to win their group and then beat one of the nine other group winners to end up as one of the five countries to represent Africa in Qatar.

SAFA – and Hugo Broos – caught a massive break when the first round of World Cup qualifiers, initially scheduled for early June, were delayed until September.

Bafana Bafana will begin their quest to qualify for Qatar against neighbours Zimbabwe.

READ | KAIZER CHIEFS SET UNWANTED ‘RECORD’ WITH WORST DEFENSIVE SEASON EVER!

However, Broos told Bafana Bafana supporters to forget about the World Cup qualification and to rather focus on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and the 2026 World Cup in the USA Canada and Mexico.

“I am pleading for patience and all that I am asking for is time for me to build a strong team like African powerhouses such as Senegal and Nigeria. To be realistic, it is going to be tough to qualify for the World Cup. We are rebuilding and there will be moments of weakness. Do not be angry if we do not qualify for the World Cup. But kill me if we do not qualify for the 2023 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup finals. Please be patient with me,” said Broos.

“Bafana will use the World Cup qualifiers experience for Afcon. It is tough to qualify for the World Cup. You have to finish first in your group and then play against a strong team from another group to qualify. It will be difficult for SA to qualify for the World Cup. They must not kill the team if they fail to qualify,” Broos urged.

WATCH | KAIZER CHIEFS V SWALLOWS: FREE DSTV PREMIERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS – 12 MAY 2021