Move over Jose Mourinho, you’re no longer the special one. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos can now legitimately lay claim to that title.
What Broos has done for this Bafana team since he walked out at OR Tambo International arrivals three years ago, is nothing short of phenomenal.
When Bafana failed to qualify for Africa Cup of Nations 2021, the national team had reached yet another low. With then-coach Molefi Ntseki exiting stage left, Broos was swiftly appointed.
Since the Belgian international hung up his playing boots in 1986, he moved to coaching two years later in his homeland. Since then, Broos has coached in over 900 games to make him one of the most experienced managers in global football.
New generation rising up
He’s blooded a new generation of youngsters in Bafana, and already the country is reaping the rewards.
Chief among those rewards was Bafana’s bronze medal at Afcon in Cameroon earlier this year in February.
Led by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Bafana came agonisingly close to reaching the final as they lost to Nigeria on penalties in the semis.
They did, however, manage to win the third place playoff to return to South Africa with a medal.
The welcome Bafana received at OR Tambo saw legions of fans come out to celebrate the achievements of their team. In fact, it was not totally dissimilar to the welcome the Springboks received a few months prior, as they returned from France where they defended their Rugby World Cup title.
Who would have thought that kind of euphoria would sweep over SA football again? Especially as Bafana have not qualified for a Fifa World Cup since 2002. Bafana of course gained automatic entry to the 2010 edition as hosts.
It actually reminded me of the 1996 Afcon-winning Bafana team. I was lucky enough to attend the final that year as a wide-eyed 10-year-old, as part of a sellout crowd at the old FNB Stadium. I watched as Nelson Mandela walked onto the field to the massive cheers of the crowd, like he had done the year before when the Springboks won their first Rugby World Cup as hosts.
I then watched Neil Tovey lift the trophy in a team of household names like Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Eric Tinkler, Phil Masinga and Shoes Moshoeu.
Now, Bafana are creating more household names with players like Williams, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha and Lyle Foster rising up. They are being led by older players like Themba Zwane and Aubrey Modiba as the player conveyor belt keeps turning.
Heavy praise
Former Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena, who was in charge of the team for the 2010 World Cup, believes this new generation can continue to make the nation proud.
"I'm quite confident that we have turned the corner. This team went to the Afcon and came out third. The boys have been winning games. Right now, the boys have raised the bar and have shown that they are hungry for support just as much as the Springboks do," Mokoena told SportsBoom.com.
"They have shown people that they can be able to win games and also entertain in the process. We are now at the stage where we have the whole country behind us, but we know that we have to win the Afcon and qualify for the World Cup again.
“We are now getting back to being the best in Africa or one of the best in Africa.”
Heavy praise indeed.
There has even been comparisons made between this Bafana team and a young Manchester United team under Alex Ferguson back in the early 90s. After three years in charge building a new team, Ferguson came perilously close to the axe but by the 1990/1991 season a 17-year-old Ryan Giggs was promoted to the senior team. Players like Peter Schmeichel, Roy Kean, David Beckham and Eric Cantona would all follow.
By the time ‘Fergie’ was done he had won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and three Uefa Champions League titles. Following his exit, United experienced an extended period of mediocrity its fans so richly deserved. But that’s besides the point.
The fact that this Bafana team can be compared to a Man United team under Ferguson speaks volumes. That alone is cause for optimism, as Bafana may just be getting started.