Broos: Maybe our football was more realistic
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos believes playing a more realistic type of game helped the team get the upper hand on Namibia. Broos was speaking after Bafana Bafana handed the Brave Warriors of Namibia a 4-nil thrashing at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.
“I think the boys learnt their lesson. In the debriefing two days after the game(against Mali) we showed the things we didn’t have to do anymore. What is wrong with kicking the ball in front even when there is nobody when you’re in trouble? There is nothing wrong with it,” the Belgian coach told a post-match press gathering.
South Africa brought themselves back into contention for a place in the knockout stages with the huge victory over Namibia. According to Broos, the team did not play the South African way, which helped.
“We like to play football, even in the most difficult of moments,” stressed Broos.
Themba Zwane was in his element against Namibia, grabbing a brace while Percy Tau calmly put away a penalty to open the scoring. Thapelo Maseko rounded off the scoring in what is the highest score by a team in the AFCON so far. No other team has scored four goals in a single match since the tournament began on the 13th of February.
“We know, and I have said it several times already, when Themba plays good, the team plays good. Even when it was not really his football. Themba is the man with the combination, but he knew where to go and we always give the ball to him. If he was not free there was always the two wings, Tau and Morena,” explained Broos.
The job is not done for Broos and Bafana Bafana. They will have to take this realistic brand of football and use it against Tunisia, who are also desperate for a win. Only two teams from each group are guaranteed qualification to the knockout stage, with four of the best third-placed nations also staying in Ivory Coast.
Group E is now a tight affair, thanks to the Bafana Bafana rout of Namibia and a draw in the other match featuring Mali and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia. All four teams play at the same time on Wednesday to determine to who goes home and who goes to the Round of 16.
