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JOHANNESBURG. — Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is hoping to emulate Belgium’s meteoric rise on the international scene.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, Broos hit out at South Africa’s domestic clubs over what he perceived to be a lack of cooperation, suggesting that his preparations were being sabotaged by elements within the local game.
The Belgian tactician appealed to clubs to assist, rather than hinder him in his role for the benefit of the entire country, and used his homeland’s meteoric rise over the last decade as the perfect case study for the benefits of a successful national team.
“When it is going good with Bafana Bafana, the value of the players increase when you have a good national team,” Broos said.
“And. I know what I am talking about, see what happened in my country.
“Fifteen years ago, nobody wanted a Belgian player, now everyone wants a Belgian player. So, directly, there are advantages to clubs.
“The interest in South African football increases when it is going good with the national team. Now in Europe, when we are speaking about African football, we are speaking about Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, but never about South Africa, never.
“So, if you have a good national team, you can be sure that everyone will begin to have an interest in South African football.
“Who is interested in sponsoring South African football when there is no interest?
“In Belgium, they had to look very hard to find a sponsor 15 years ago, now the (sponsors are lining up) in the road outside the building of the federation.’’
Fifteen years ago, Belgium were ranked outside the top 50 ON the FIFA World Ranking and failed to qualify for both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments, as well as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships.
However, the Red Devils have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since then and are now the highest-ranked nation in the world.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League have denied that supporters will be allowed to return to stadiums after a recent address from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Fans have been unable to access stadiums since the first lockdown in March 2020 but with signs of the Covid-19 pandemic being controlled with the vaccination rollout moving at a faster pace, there have been suggestions of change in Mzansi.
The upcoming Soweto derby on November 6 was reported to have been targeted for allowing fans to return while SAFA were set to allow a limited amount of fully vaccinated fans to attend home games, for the senior national team.
“There have been suggestions, after the President’s address on Thursday 30 September 2021, that it might be possible to allow a limited number of spectators to attend upcoming PSL matches,’’ read the statement.
“Unfortunately, the new Disaster Management Act regulations continue to prohibit spectators at matches.
“Section 69 (10) of the regulations requires “strict adherence” to the provisions which have limited those permitted at matches to persons strictly necessary for the match.
“Sub-section 69 (10) (d) expressly confirms that “no spectators are allowed at the venue of the sports match” and subsections 12 and 13 make attendance (and permitting attendance) a criminal offence.
“It is important that all PSL supporters and fans understand this.
“The League Covid-19 protocol and the process which regulates the persons who are permitted to attend matches will remain in place until such time as there are new regulatory changes.’’ — KickOff.com
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