Former Bafana Bafana players Teko Modise, Kermit Erasmus and Luvuyo Memela have publicly urged head coach Hugo Broos to alter his approach ahead of Thursday’s World Cup meeting with Czechia in Atlanta.
Modise, now a pundit in the SuperSport studios, took aim at Broos on SuperSport TV after the coach described South Africa’s 2-0 loss to Mexico on June 11 as a “good game.” Broos had started with a surprise 5-3-2 formation and left out Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng. Modise challenged the selection and system, saying the team struggled after conceding and questioning the coach’s assessment of the performance.
Ex-Pirates and Sundowns forward Kermit Erasmus responded on X to Broos’ comment that the World Cup level might be beyond his players. Erasmus criticised making that point public and wrote that the World Cup had only just begun, adding, “We can’t believe in our boys more than you.”
Former Pirates winger Luvuyo Memela echoed those concerns in an Instagram story. Praising Cape Verde’s display in a 0-0 draw with Spain, Memela said African teams had been playing their own style, unlike South Africa, and urged the coach to stop “worrying about losing” and to go with his instincts. He added, “Come on, Coach. It’s your last dance – handbrake down.”
Broos has enjoyed broad support during his five-year tenure as Bafana Bafana coach, but those voices of dissent underline the pressure he faces to convince the nation that this squad can become the first South African side to reach the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup.
