Hugo Broos slams social media critics over Bafana selections

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has fired back at the online criticism directed at his squad selection, dismissing the constant social media noise as “ridiculous” and assuring the public that the negativity has zero impact on his decisions.

The straight-talking Belgian has consistently faced scrutiny over his choice of players, most recently after announcing the team set to play an international friendly against Zambia this coming Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The match serves as a crucial warm-up for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, where Bafana will aim to build on the bronze medal success achieved at the previous tournament in Ivory Coast.

Consistent Selections By Broos Ignite Fan Fury

Broos has remained steadfast in his core group, often making minimal adjustments camp-to-camp. His latest squad, which reported for duty on Monday, saw only two new inclusions: Orlando Pirates midfielder Masindi Nemtajela and Sekhukhune United’s Keletso Makgalwa.

This consistency has been the central flashpoint for critics, especially following the decision to omit all Kaizer Chiefs players—a snub that has consistently sparked debate, despite some perceived recent improvement from the Glamour Boys.

Broos has been unapologetically vocal about his stance, arguing that Chiefs players simply do not currently meet the standard required for the national team. While Mduduzi Shabalala was included in the previous camp for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, the current squad saw no Amakhosi representation.

Broos Brushes Off the Noise

Addressing the relentless criticism from the virtual stands, Broos made it clear he pays no attention to online commentary.

“You know how I feel about social media, I don’t follow that at all,” Broos stated bluntly. “And I think if I should read those things, I should laugh.”

He concluded his firm rebuke of the online detractors: “Those are people who think they’re important on social media, and they can say what they want. It’s really nonsense, it’s ridiculous, and it doesn’t affect me at all, but thank you for mentioning it.”