Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has hit out at FIFA ahead of their important 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
The Belgian coach was not happy that his side had to travel to Cape Coast to face the hosts instead of playing in Ghana’s capital Accra.
Broos explained that his side had to travel an additional three hours by bus after arriving in Accra via plane, blaming FIFA for allowing the game to take place at the Cape Coast Sports stadium.
“It was a long day today, we trained in the evening, but we needed it because the travel yesterday was exhausting for us,” he said during a press conference.
“It’s a pity that FIFA allowed such things when you have to play qualifiers for a World Cup. Not only travel but if you have to take a bus after six hours flight, to go 120 kilometres and you do three hours on the bus.
“I don’t blame Ghana for that, I blame FIFA for that. Those are situations that are not appropriate for qualifiers of the World Cup.”
Broos also insisted that South Africa having to play in Ethiopia, while Ghana played their away match against Ethiopia in South Africa was not fair.
“I think it’s time that FIFA does something for that. I know it’s very difficult for some countries to have appropriate stadiums,” he added.
“You should play in the capital where you can travel easy for the opponent. This cost money and it’s not so easy to do that for some countries.
“At the other side, if tomorrow you want to play hockey and you don’t have a stick, you can’t play hockey. You can tell them, I don’t have the money to buy that stick. Ok, sorry for you, but you can’t play hockey.
“This is something you have to think about. If tomorrow you are a country and you don’t have an appropriate stadium, then this is something, then you have to go and play your games in another country, finished.
“It’s not normal that we and Zimbabwe had to play in Ethiopia and then Ghana could come to paradise, South Africa. I’m sorry, this is paradise Joburg, in comparison to Ethiopia.
“I don’t blame Ghana, but I blame CAF and FIFA, they have to change. You are talking about qualifiers for the World Cup. The highest tournament in football and those situations happen, it’s not fair for nobody.
“Let’s hope it will change for countries in Africa.”
Bafana will need to avoid a defeat against Ghana in their final Group G match to stay ahead of the Black Stars and qualify for the playoffs.
