Twist:Benni McCarthy deal hits a snag, SAFA appoint Hugo Broos instead?

SAFA are set to appoint veteran Belgian Mentor Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana coach today, ahead of Benni McCarthy according Sabc News reports on Tuesday.

According to highly reputable news outlets from around the country on Sunday, the Amazulu mentor had finalized a deal that would see him take over the reins of the national team. Reports even went as far as stating the conditions of McCarthy’s appointment, with one, the appointments of his current assistants at Usuthu.

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Benni McCarthy was all but confirmed as Bafana coach

McCarthy was also said to be allowed to finish the season at Amazulu. With him only expected to assume his new job on May 29. However, according to new information from Soccer-Laduma, there was never a done deal between McCarthy and SAFA. It is believed that certain terms were agreed in principle, but negotiations were still ongoing in an effort to iron out certain details.

The report went on to detail that, although McCarthy made it clear he wanted to be assisted by former internationals Siyabonga Nomvete and Moneeb Josephs, SAFA seems to have ignored that request. It is believed that the issue stems from the type of finances a move of that nature would demand from the country’s football governing body.

Reported stumbling block to Bafana Bafana coaching job.

Shortly after Molefi Ntseki’s dismissal, SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe had come out with a bold statement that money would not be a stumbling block when it comes to the appointment of the new Bafana Bafana coach. That statement seemed to be justified as widespread reports circulated that high-profile international candidates Havre Renard, Carlos Quiroz as well as Hugo Broos were on the shortlist.

It then begs the question as to why SAFA failed to show McCarthy the required financial support even though there seems to be no shortage of funds?  In fact SAFA would’ve known that it would take a huge financial effort to terminate the national teams’ all-time leading goal-scorers contract. A sum of R2 Million was previously cited, and it is believed SAFA would have no problems paying it before offering the Uefa Champions League winner a reported five-year deal.

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Hugo Broos is believed to be the next Bafana Bafana coaching appointment.

It now seems like they have backed out of the deal, however, and if the latest reports are true they have now firmly set their sights on Broos.  The national broadcast goes as far as saying the former Cameroon national team coach will be named Bafana Bafana coach today.

Who is Hugo Broos?

The 69-year-old ex-Belgium international has had an extensive coaching career spanning all of 31 years. During that time he has notably coached the likes of Belgian League giants Club Brugge, R.S.C Anderlecht as well as K.R.C Genk. He also has experience coaching on the African continent with Algerian sides JS Kabyile and NA Hussein Dey.

He then picked up his first international football team job with Cameroon from 2016-2017, a period in which he led the Indomitable Lions to an Afcon title as well as World Cup Finals appearance. After leaving the continent, he returned to his native to take up a Sporting Director role at Oostende.  

Should reports prove accurate, the Bafana Bafana job would be his first active involvement back in football, since leaving his role as caretaker coach at the Ostend-based top-flight outfit.