The final whistle had barely sounded at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey when Hugo Broos crumpled to the turf. The 72-year-old Belgian, who has poured five years of his life into transforming Bafana Bafana from also-rans into genuine contenders, could no longer hold himself upright under the weight of the moment.
Around him, the bench erupted and flooded the pitch. South Africa, the nation that hosted a World Cup in 2010 but had never, in four attempts, made it past the group stage, were through to the knockout rounds for the very first time.
It had been a night of nerve and nerve alone. Bafana started slowly, immediately put under pressure by a South Korean side that knew a draw was enough, featuring the menace of Lee Kang-in and later Son Heung-Min. But Broos’s half-time message shifted everything.
South Africa grew increasingly dangerous, and the breakthrough came just before the second hydration break — substitute Tshepang Moremi making an immediate impact by setting up Thapelo Maseko, who finished low and precisely beyond Kim Seung-gyu.
Then came the longest twenty minutes of Broos’s coaching life.
The final 25 minutes were tense but disciplined. South Korea dominated possession, but South Africa held firm with remarkable composure and defensive grit.
On the touchline, Broos paced, clasped his hands, and stared at the scoreboard. Every second felt like an hour. When it was finally over, he gathered himself and spoke, voice thick with pride, eyes still glistening.
“We had a good game, good chances and technically we were very good,” Broos told SuperSport TV.
“It was very difficult for South Korea to find any spaces. We defended well and in transitions we were dangerous — that’s what we wanted to do today.”
“Then we scored the goal and it was then 20 minutes of heart beating and hoping the game could be finished as soon as possible. So we’re in the second round — it’s historical. For the guys, I’m very happy for the guys.
“I’ve worked with them already for five years and what we’ve done in those five years is amazing.”
‘A Historical Day’
And amazing it has been. After losing their opener to Mexico and losing key players to suspension, the South Africans were on the backfoot heading into this fixture; but they displayed immense spirit to register four points in the following two games and seal a place in the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Bafana now earn a date with co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32 – and travel to Los Angeles this weekend.
Sixteen years ago, South Africa opened a World Cup to the sound of vuvuzelas and the whole world watching, and went home in the group stage.
On Thursday morning, or Wednesday night in Monterrey, under the glow of the Monterrey floodlights, they finally finished what the generation in 1998 started.
Broos, lying on the grass, arms spread wide, had every right to stay down there for a while.