Broos’ calm confidence key as Bafana face decisive World Cup qualifiers

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will do well to transfer his nonchalant and calm demeanour onto his players. Ahead of South Africa’s last two World Cup qualifying matches, there can be no denying that cool heads will be needed if the country’s senior national men's team are to make it to the global football showpiece.

Tied on 14 points with Benin, Bafana are in second position due to an inferior goal difference. To qualify for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US, Ronwen Williams and Co have to beat Zimbabwe in Durban on Friday and Rwanda in Mbombela next Tuesday.

Such pressure can often be too hard to bear, particularly for a squad teeming with fairly young players. And having lost their place at the top of the table after Fifa overturned their 2-0 victory over Lesotho into a 3-0 defeat due to fielding Teboho Mokoena, Bafana are bound to be feeling the heat.

Yet, on a cool, overcast Monday afternoon deep in Soweto, Broos cut the figure of a man hardly perturbed by recent developments around his squad. Resplendent in black shorts, a white T-shirt and a black tracksuit top, the silver-haired Belgian looked relaxed.

Having addressed the media at the arrival conference, Broos took a seat away from the main table to allow newcomers Thabang Matuludi and Malibongwe Khoza to address the press.

But one member of the media followed him, shoving a cellphone in his face — taking selfies and recording videos from different angles. Broos remained impressively unaffected, just as he is by the noise surrounding how Safa handled the Mokoena yellow-card saga.

Instead, he is confident South Africa will go to the World Cup next year — and do so by topping Group C.

“No doubt,” he said. “There’s never been doubt that we will qualify. Why should we doubt after we have seen the team’s performance in the last eight games?

“If there’s a team that deserves to go to the World Cup, it is South Africa. There’s never been doubt, and I will stress that to the group when we meet. I believe in the group, and I am sure on Friday they will do everything to win.”

Friday’s match might be against a Warriors side with little to play for in terms of qualification. But Broos knows just how dangerous such teams can be, particularly given the natural rivalry that always exists between neighbouring countries.

“I don’t have to tell you that the next games are historical because South Africa could qualify for the World Cup,” he said, opening his address by announcing the withdrawal of the injured Relebohile Mofokeng from the squad.

The Orlando Pirates man has been replaced by Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala.

“The situation is a little changed because of the deduction of three points. Yet, even if we were three points ahead, we would still have had to win our last two games. Looking at the table, there are four teams involved — it is impossible that all four can win their matches.

“Friday’s game is the most important. If we win that game, we have 17 points. If Nigeria win their two games, they have 17 points, and if Rwanda win, they have 17.

"Benin can’t win two matches. We don’t expect anything from our opponents — even the coach of Zimbabwe has already said they will be motivated. So we are ready for them, then we will see what happens in the other matches.”

Broos remained his calm self as he took his players through their paces, walking nonchalantly about the pitch without ever shouting instructions or losing his cool when moves went wrong — as many coaches in such a pressure situation might.

It would be great if he could transfer all of that composure to his players.