Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S opponents in next month’s World Cup qualifiers, South Africa, have made a bold statement of intention.
They have appointed respected Belgian coach Hugo Broosnas the new man in charge of Bafana Bafana.
The 69-year-old Broos, who won the 2017 African Cup of Nations with Cameroon, beat a heavyweight list of contenders for the Bafana Bafana job, who included former Real Madrid coach Carlos Quiroz.
Former Morocco and Zambia national team coach Herve Renard was also on the shortlist.
Renard is remembered most for guiding Zambia to the 2012 AFCON title before repeating the same feat with Ivory Coast three years later.
There was growing speculation that ex-Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy would take over from Molefi Ntseki, who was sacked after failing to qualify for the 2021 AFCON finals, but it was the Belgian Broos who landed the post on Wednesday afternoon.
Broos, who won two Belgian league titles with Club Brugge and one with Anderlecht, will be in charge of South Africa when they play Zimbabwe in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers during the weekend of June 5-6.
Also linked with the Bafana Bafana job were Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane, Gavin Hunt (Kaizer Chiefs), Eric Tinkler (unattached) and Muhsin Ertugral, who has been in the Turkey national team set- up.
Zimbabwe and South Africa are in Group G alongside Ethiopia and Ghana.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter