It is now public knowledge that Belgian mentor Hugo Broos will be leaving Bafana Bafana to return to his homeland after next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Broos, however, would still have South Africa’s interests at heart beyond the global showpiece.
He has hinted at a consultancy role, but some recent call-ups would be considered great for the future of South African football.
He raised some eyebrows when he called up 20-year-old center-back Tylon Smith and Shandre Campbell, who is also 20, to the squad heading to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both players are unfamiliar with the group and, of course, senior international football. Broos says the call-ups are exactly what the national team needs.
“I think the most important thing is that there are still players who are very talented and who played in (the junior) AFCON, and it was a little surprising that (Belgian club Club Brugge) didn’t release Shandre to go with the U-20 team to the AFCON tournament,” said Broos.
“But I think it’s a great opportunity for those two players to adapt to a higher level of football and to see what’s happening with Bafana Bafana during training. They have a lot to learn in the coming weeks.
“I took them for their quality, and we don’t really have to count on them to play in (AFCON) games. However, if the opportunity arises, we can give them a chance. The most important thing for them now is to gain experience with Bafana Bafana, and at the higher level they are confronted with.
“We can give them time to settle into the national team, which is why I decided to take those two players with us now to the AFCON. We are also looking at the future; it may be a little easier for them to become regular players for Bafana Bafana,” he added.
This is, in fact, a norm in world football, but it is rarely done in South Africa.
In 1994, Brazil took young Ronaldo Nazario to the World Cup in the United States of America. At 17, he was the youngest member of the squad that won the World Cup that year.
In 1998, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball as the Player of the Tournament after he helped Brazil reach the final before losing to host country France.
