Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has reflected on Mamelodi Sundowns‘ CAF Champions League final defeat against Pyramids FC in Cairo on Sunday.
Sundowns lost the second leg of the tie 2-1 at the 30 June Stadium, going down 3-2 on aggregate in their first final in the cup since winning it in 2016.
Broos didn’t call up any players from Miguel Cardoso’s side to the international friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique as they have the FIFA Club World Cup in the US this month.
The coach admitted that he thought the Brazilians had good opportunities to wrap up the game and win their second star, however came up against a Pyramids side that he feels is even better than record champions Al Ahly.
Broos also believes that it’s time for Sundowns to do a serious reflection on why they haven’t been able to get over the line and win the title again despite reaching the latter stages consistently.
“I thought there was a big chance that Sundowns could finish the job,” Broos said when asked for his thoughts on the final by iDiski Times.
“But at the other side this Pyramids team is not a bad team and for me, what I saw in the previous Champions League they are better than Al Ahly. It’s a better team than Al Ahly. They are very aggressive. They play good football. There are some good players in it.
“So, it was tough, and I said it on Thursday when I was in SABC to announce the team, they asked me the same question, I said I think Sundowns can win but it will be very tough, and it happens, and I think it’s a big disappointment for Sundowns.
“I think they expected that they could finish the job in Cairo. They were confident. When you’re confident and then you lose, and they had chances in the second half they were dominating Pyramids.
“The goalkeeper of Pyramids saved two, three chances of Sundowns. But okay those things are happening and maybe Sundowns have to look a little bit what happened in the previous season because since I’m here, they played quarterfinals, they played semi-finals, they played finals, and every time they don’t succeed.
“So maybe they have to change something or to do something, because they have to think about it. Because you can’t every year be so far and then when it’s money time you lose.”
Broos, however, maintains that Sundowns getting to the final was important for South African football.
“It’s up to them now but we don’t have to forget either what they did, we have to be proud as South Africans that they performed, what they performed,” added the Belgian mentor.
“It was a very good Champions League campaign for them, and everything went good till the final and that’s a pity. But, again, congratulations to Sundowns and to the coach for what they did for South African football because it was important to be there.”
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