‘Players are running everywhere’ – Hugo Broos highlights where South African football needs to improve

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has highlighted where South African football needs to improve to compete at an international level.

Broos guided his Bafana side to an impressive bronze medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. A large majority of his squad comprised of local players, with Mamelodi Sundowns dominating the composition of the 23-man squad.

The 71-year-old Belgian has implored South African football to follow the rest of the world in the advancement of the game.

“The PSL level has to improve and not physically or whatever but in regards to tactical discipline and organisation,” Broos told the Soccer Africa show.

“I see sometimes when I go to PSL games, and I wonder how [which tactical system] are they playing. There is no tactical discipline.

“Players are running everywhere. We can’t do that at an international level. You need tactical discipline, you need a plan, and that’s how you can gauge if you have the right plan [tactics].

“You can always change or make corrections, but you have to start with a plan. For me, my opinion was that you don’t have to play anymore like South Africans if we want to achieve something at an international level.

Combination play

Broos added that it was noticeable during the recent continental showpiece that his Bafana side had made strides to align their style of play to international standards.

“Many people approached me in the Ivory Coast from different countries and said ‘You don’t play how South Africa usually plays'”, Broos added.

“This is true, as South African football is all about combinations and technical things.

“But this is international football and there is so much more [to the game].

“Don’t talk then about [winning] World Cups and AFCON. I’m very sorry but I don’t think in 2026 or 2030 that an African team are capable of winning the World Cup.