Hugo Broos has ruled out offering guidance to whoever takes over as Bafana Bafana head coach, insisting that his successor must be trusted to find their own way with the national team.
The Belgian, who is set to depart after his stint in charge, was characteristically straightforward when asked whether he would pass on any wisdom to the next coach.
“This is something I will not do,” Broos said. “If there’s a new coach, he needs to do what he needs to do and work like he works. He doesn’t need to listen to me or me give him advice; he will know what he needs to do.”
Broos was emphatic that the incoming coach would inherit a squad capable of competing at the highest level, and that it would be up to him to identify and address any shortcomings.
“He will know he has a good team and it’s up to him to work with it and maybe work on what this team lacks, to make it better and progress,” he added.
“It’s not up to me to give advice – if there’s a coach to come in for Bafana Bafana, he will know what he needs to do.”
‘I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes’
While Broos was reluctant to look ahead, he was more than willing to reflect on just how far Bafana Bafana have come under his watch – and the picture he painted of his early days in charge was a stark one.
“I think the mentality of this team has changed a lot compared to five years ago,” he said.
“When I saw the first training session of the team I couldn’t believe my eyes – the mentality was not good. I had to stop the training session and tell them, ‘guys, this is not good, you have to work, to do your job. The national team is not a few days off before going back to the club’.”
A Legacy That Must Outlast Him
For Broos, the shift in attitude is the achievement he is most proud of – and the one he is most desperate to see protected after he leaves.
“Certainly that’s changed – the mentality. You need it for success,” he continued.
“It’s what made us succeed and have this fight we showed, until 90 minutes, high intensity. They want to die on the field,” he said. “It’s something that needs to stay in this team.”
It is a fitting final message from a coach who arrived to find a dressing room lacking hunger and leaves behind one that has rediscovered its fighting spirit. Whether that culture endures will depend on the players themselves; and on whoever SAFA appoints to take the reins next.