Broos sets the cat among the pigeons
The day a Bafana Bafana squad is announced and there is general consensus that the coach has nailed the selection to the satisfaction of every soccer supporter, it would be a cold day in hell.
For an example, it will never happen that a guy called Ta G will not violently question the selection of Zakhele Lepasa
— only to draw a vociferous defence of the striker from a certain chap known as Million.
One thing’s for sure, whenever the man in charge of our senior national soccer squad names the latest team, he sets the cat among the pigeons. Arguments ensue in earnest as teeth are sunk on how rubbish player X is.
It can go as far as the naked truth of people saying that a particular player has got pictures of the coach in a compromising position, hence his name will always be among those called up no matter their form.
One such player is Siyanda Xulu, who plays for Turan-Tovuz, the Uzbekistan — or is it Azerbaijan? — frontrunners to win the current campaign of the Champions League. He somehow always finds favour with Broos. It is all banter of course. But it just goes to show you how passionate people are about their national team.
Even one that has been in perpetual underperforming mode like Bafana, who display a great phobia — a fear of qualifying for major tournaments. They have a great ability to watch the Africa
Cup of Nations (Afcon) with the rest of us supporters, not to mention their uncanny ability to avoid the World Cup like the plague.
Things were no different this week when Broos told us about the 30-man preliminary squad he has selected for the purpose of exchanging friendly fire with southern African neighbours Mozambique and Angola.
Mbombela will be the site of battle against The Mambas on November 17. It will be followed by a locking of horns with the Palancas Negras at the same venue five days later.
The idea behind the two matches is for Broos to see who he moves forward with when the serious business of the Afcon qualifiers resumes in March.
Bafana’s next opponents are Liberia, the countrymen of the only African player in history to don the crown of World Footballer of the Year, long before the Ballon d’or was reduced to a contest between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Broos will use the games as preparation for the crucial home and away 2023 Afcon qualifiers against Liberia in March.
Victory over the country in which George Weah is now president is nonnegotiable.
The inclusion of Miguel Timm is one even the most ardent non-Orlando Pirates fans will find hard to question. The unassuming midfield strongman has put in plausible shifts since switching from Marumo Gallants to the Sea Robbers.
Dutchman Eric ten Hag has referred to Casemiro as the cement in the Manchester United midfield. So solid are the showings by the Brazilian for the Red Devils, the description fits. Broos will be hoping that Timm brings solidity of similar concrete fashion to the Bafana belly, which can be softer than jelly at the worst of times.
It is encouraging to see Luke le Roux, the 22-year-old who made an impressive debut against Sierra Leone, being rewarded with a return call-up. There are many other players who are located in various countries who have a green South African passport and deserve to get a look in for this Bafana team.
For a man who frequently returns to his home country Belgium when Bafana’s programme is in limbo, the old man can and should use the time to run his rule over these players. Safa, rather than chowing R13m in honorariums, can set aside a budget for him to go around these European countries to watch these boys up close and personal.
Bafana need all the help they can get to drag themselves from the depths of the doldrums that have seen them fall below the radar of strong football nations.