The latest media reports in Tunisia indicate that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos could dump the South African national side, and SAFA responds to the news. According to Mosaïque FM, the website reported on Monday that the Belgian coach will coach Tunisia and leave Bafana. However, SAFA head of communications, Mninawa Ntloko denies the reports, saying there is nothing that has changed between SAFA, Bafana and Broos.
Bafana Coach Broos to Dump Bafana and Coach Tunisia
The Tunisian radio station has it that it had “learnt that Hugo Broos is close to taking over as coach of the [Tunisia] national team, [with the Tunisian federation] waiting for the Belgian to find a [way] to sever his association with SAFA and allow him to leave his position as coach of Bafana Bafana”.
“In the event that the procedures for terminating his contract with SAFA are completed, Broos will directly coach the Tunisian national team, knowing he will be accompanied in his awaited mission by a number of his assistants who worked with him during his previous experiences in recent years.”
Mosaïque FM is the first private radio station in Tunisia but a statement from the Nasrec-based association, SAFA, says the agreement between the coach stays. The news comes as the Carthage Eagles are looking for a coach after their shambolic display at the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast where they exited in the group stages.
Bafana: SAFA Responds to Broos Exit Rumours
The North Africans are looking for Jalel Kadri’s successor but SAFA denied this as untrue as Bafana is preparing to face Algeria on Tuesday night.
“The coach answered this very same question during a Zoom press briefing with South African media a couple of days ago, and nothing has changed. We are at training at the match venue as we speak,” SAFA’s head of communications told IOL Sport on Monday.
Meanwhile, the 71-year-old rubbished the reports as also pubIished by this publication last week with the Belgian saying he just heard of the rumours.
“I heard rumours that Algeria were interested, that Tunisia were interested, and some other teams, also Brugges,” Broos said last week.
“But again, there are no negotiations. I didn’t see the people of Brugge. I know only that I am on the list and one of the candidates, so let’s see what happens in the future. I have a contract until 2026, so if there will be a moment that maybe I can leave or want to leave.”
Furthermore, media reports in South Africa suggest that the news from Tunisia might be part of a tactical ploy where the media in that country publishes stories at the behest of the federation to try to force certain situations in luring coaches to their national team.
Related: Algeria vs South Africa Match Preview: Bafana Gunning For Glory In Algiers