Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos throws in the towel after failed attempts to hook up with PSL coaches

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed profound frustration over his unsuccessful attempts to convene a meeting with all Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches, indicating that he has now abandoned the effort altogether.

This decision comes after four consecutive attempts over the past four years were cancelled by the PSL, leaving the seasoned mentor both incredulous and disheartened.

Addressing journalists at SAFA House while announcing his squad for the upcoming international friendly against Zambia on November 15, Broos conveyed his disappointment at the apparent reluctance from the league’s governing body to facilitate cooperation between the national team and its clubs.

“Four years ago, I asked to have a meeting with all the PSL coaches and in four attempts, they cancelled it. In four attempts, they didn’t even send the invitations to the clubs. So, for me, it was done, finished, I’m not a fool,” Broos lamented.

His gestures of despair were palpable; a clear indication of his frustration with the ongoing challenges in fostering collaboration between SAFA and the PSL, despite the potential benefits that such cooperation could deliver to South African football development.

While there may be challenges, there is still hope for fostering productive relationships within domestic football. The 73-year-old coach indicated that individual discussions with club mentors have yielded better outcomes.

Discussing his collaboration with esteemed coaches from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, Broos noted the positive results that have emerged from these one-on-one meetings.

“But with those guys, Pirates phoned me and said, ‘Look, do you want to meet the coach?’ and I said ‘yes’. The same thing happened with Sundowns. I met Miguel and (previously) Manqoba (Mngqithi),” Broos recalled, underlining the growing camaraderie between himself and specific coaches within the league.

The relationship between the national team and domestic clubs should be collaborative rather than competitive, according to Broos.

“We are colleagues. We have a good relationship with those coaches. So, if the teams want, I’m open to it,” Broos added, offering a glimmer of hope for future engagements with coaches who are genuinely interested in strengthening ties with the Bafana setup.

Broos’ comments come on the heels of recent praise from Cardoso regarding their working relationship, which is vital given that both Pirates and Sundowns contribute a significant number of players to the national squad.

This interaction illustrates an emerging willingness among specific coaches to foster closer ties with the national team, particularly in light of Broos’s achievements, including leading Bafana Bafana to the AFCON finals twice and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

As his five-year contract enters its final year, the Belgian coach’s insights highlight the pressing need for collective effort to nurture South African football talent.

While he remains committed to the national team’s prospects, Broos’s ongoing struggle to secure a formal dialogue with PSL coaches highlights a broader challenge to the unity of national and domestic agendas in South Africa’s football landscape.