Mbia Confident Broos Can Lead South Africa To Glory, But Is There A Catch?

Mbia Confident Broos Can Lead South Africa To Glory, But Is There A Catch?

Broos’ success with Cameroon and his appointment as Bafana Bafana coach

Former Cameroon captain, Stephane Mbia, has expressed his belief that Hugo Broos can lead South Africa to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory if the team fully embraces the coach’s methods. Broos, who steered Cameroon to the AFCON trophy in 2017, took the reins of the Bafana Bafana team in May 2021 on a five-year contract.

However, the Belgian coach’s tenure faced scrutiny recently after the team surrendered a two-goal lead to Liberia at home, drawing the match and placing their AFCON qualification in doubt.

Building winning squads from scratch and the importance of belief and support

Mbia, who missed out on Cameroon’s 2017 triumph, stressed that Broos built his winning squad from scratch and suggested that he could do the same with the Bafana Bafana team. The former Marseille midfielder called on South Africans to believe in the coach and his philosophy, highlighting the importance of positivity and support from fans.

Cameroon’s matches with South Africa and the importance of young talent development

Cameroon met South Africa in the qualifiers for the 2017 tournament, with the teams drawing 2-2 in Limbe before a goalless draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Mbia remembered the games and praised Hlompho Kekana for his stunning goal from his own half, which caught the Cameroon goalie off guard. The former captain also urged the South African Football Association (SAFA) to invest in developing young talent, as Cameroon had done by creating a football centre for young players.

Broos’ willingness to change his mind and the potential for AFCON success with Bafana Bafana

Broos initially overlooked players like Themba Zwane, believing that the team needed new blood to reinvigorate it after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the AFCON finals in Cameroon. However, the coach was forced to recall Zwane after the midfielder continued to impress with his club, Mamelodi Sundowns. Mbia lauded Broos’ willingness to change his mind, saying “only fools don’t change their minds.”