Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has defended his decision to have all 32 players from his provisional 2026 FIFA World Cup squad the Presidential farewell dinner.
The called-up players had been in camp from the start of the week except Mamelodi Sundowns players who joined camp late following their celebrations of their CAF Champions League triumph over the past weekend.
The coach left the naming of the final 26 players until Wednesday owing to some last-minute assessments on injured players.
The Kaizer Chiefs trio of Brandon Petersen, Thabiso Monyane and Lebohang Maboe, Brooklyn Pogenpoel, Patrick Maswanganyi and Thapelo Morena did not make the final team though they were in attendance at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House.
A video of the six players looking in from the back at the chosen group celebrating their inclusions with Broos and President Cyril Ramaphosa has been circulating on social media since the event.
The players have received sympathy from some fans and some media who felt it was harsh what the small group went through in that moment.
Asked what led to his decision, Broos explained that it would have been harsher to not even have them at the event and there was no ill intention and that he believes in a group sticking together in good and bad times.
“You know I’m a coach who believes very much in being a group,” said Broos.
“For me, there is no player who is above the group because one player can’t win a game. You win a game with the group, and the group is not only 11, like today, there’s 26 players.
“So, I wanted to keep that group together, even in bad moments. For me, I think it should be worse for the players if yesterday afternoon I told them ‘Look, guys go home because you’re not with the 26’.
“That should not be honest towards them. So that’s why I kept them together. They went to the event with the President, and they know the decisions there which were made was disappointing for them, but they were still members of Bafana Bafana and that was for me important.
“So, I think even if it was a disappointment and it was not a good moment for the players, they hear yesterday evening not saying you’re out, but just I’m not with the 26. I think it was not so bad that if I should say it yesterday afternoon, and I said yeah guys go home now you don’t even go with us to the President’s farewell.
“That’s what I wanted to avoid and let them feel that I was confident in them, but that I have to make a choice that has nothing to do with whatever. It’s just making the choices, and I think it was the best way to do it.”
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