Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has opted to exclude all players from Kaizer Chiefs in his squad for the upcoming international friendlies.
This decision, announced on Thursday, comes after a disappointing season for the Chiefs, who failed to finish within the top eight of the Betway Premiership for the second consecutive year. Broos’s squad is dominated by players from Orlando Pirates, including exciting first-time call-ups such as Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Simphiwe Selepe, and Deano Van Rooyen.
His decision to overlook the once-prominent Kaizer Chiefs players—Yusuf Maart, Bruce Bvuma, and Mduduzi Shabalala, who were part of the preliminary selection—raises eyebrows particularly given the club’s storied history and fan expectations.
“For me, for the moment I can’t select players of Kaizer Chiefs,” Broos stated candidly during the press conference.
“And I hope that they make a better season next year. Ok, they’ve won the Cup, but I think that was the only highlight in Chiefs’ season. All the rest was not so good.”
He added, “The supporters are very happy because they won the Cup, but we have to be honest. Otherwise, a team like Chiefs is not number nine in the log; they are number three, number two or number one.”
Broos acknowledged that while Chiefs managed to secure a cup trophy, their overall performance was inadequate for selection. He echoes the sentiments of many fans who feel that the Chiefs, regarded as one of South Africa’s most successful clubs, perform far below their potential when finishing in the lower half of the league standings.
While the absence of Chiefs players is significant, it’s worth noting that Mamelodi Sundowns players are also unavailable due to their participation in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, compounding the already significant gap left by the Chiefs’ players.
The Bafana Bafana squad will feature a robust line-up as they prepare to face Tanzania at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on June 6, followed by a clash against Mozambique at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane four days later. The upcoming matches provide an opportunity for new talent to shine, especially with nine young players from Orlando Pirates looking to make a mark on the international stage.