Former Bafana Bafana striker Sibusiso Zuma has praised national team coach Hugo Broos for his bravery in giving youngsters a go.
Bafana face Ethiopia in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers on October 9 and October 12 and Broos has named a youthful squad. SA are in pole position in a tough Group G after drawing 0-0 with Zimbabwe away before following that up with an unexpected 1-0 victory over Ghana on home soil.
The Belgian mentor’s predecessors often opted for short-term success by going for experience over youth. But in a refreshing turn, Broos is very much building with the future in mind.
And Zuma, who is seventh on the Bafana all-time scoring list, has given a ringing endorsement of the new national team coach.
“I am 100% behind the Bafana coach. I like the fact that he is brave enough to give younger players an opportunity to play, [so] let’s give him a chance to do his work,” Zuma said as quoted by Sowetan.
“It is going to take time but we know that we have a group of quality young players in the country who must gain valuable international experience in the coming years, and a few of them are already playing overseas.
“Let the coach continue to work with these young players. Already we have four points in the World Cup qualifier group. We have just beaten Ghana, so let’s give him enough space to do his thing with these young players he is selecting.
“It is about time, we have looked confused for a very long time, and starting afresh is something that we need as a country.
“Let’s start afresh with this young team and build from there because I believe that we have the quality for the coach to work with. Let’s give the man some space to work.”
In the current Broos has selected youngsters like Luke Fleurs, Ethan Brooks, Terence Mashego, Evidence Makgopa and Jesse Donn.
