Ex-Chiefs star likens Broos’ Bafana revolution to Rassie’s Springboks

The resurgence of Bafana Bafana has long been a talking point in South African football, but former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Keagan Buchanan believes the secret to their success lies in a culture shift that mirrors the world-champion Springboks.

Speaking on the Michael Morton Speaks Football podcast, Buchanan drew a direct parallel between Bafana head coach Hugo Broos and the Springboks’ mastermind, Rassie Erasmus. According to Buchanan, Broos has managed to cultivate a “club-like” loyalty within the national setup that hasn’t been seen in decades.

A Connection Beyond the Pitch

Under Broos, South Africa has shed its reputation for inconsistency. After securing a bronze medal at AFCON 2023 and ending a 24-year wait for World Cup qualification (excluding 2010), the 72-year-old Belgian has transformed the side into a continental powerhouse.

“He’s kind of built the country like a club,” Buchanan noted. “The players are not just playing for the country; they are playing for him. When you have those Springboks and Rassie vibes… there’s that strong connection. The players will die for him.”

Buchanan highlighted Broos’ uncompromising nature as a key driver for this change. Similar to the directness seen in Benni McCarthy, Broos has remained steadfast in his selection criteria, regardless of public or media pressure.

Bafana and Broos’ Powerhouse Status Ahead of AFCON 2025

As Bafana Bafana prepares for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the confidence within the camp is at an all-time high.

Buchanan points to the individual quality within the squad as a reason for this optimism. Ronwen Williams: Regarded by Buchanan as the premier goalkeeper on the continent. Khuliso Mudau: Cited as the best right-back in Africa, rivalled only by Morocco’s Ashraf Hakimi. Tactical Consistency: A settled back four and a predictable, yet effective, selection policy.

Broos recently made history as the first coach to lead South Africa to consecutive AFCON tournaments. For Buchanan—whose own career spanned stints at Chiefs, Maritzburg United, and AmaZulu—the current trajectory suggests that Bafana Bafana no longer enters matches hoping to survive, but expecting to win.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon and AFCON 2025 just around the corner, South Africa finally looks like a team that, in Buchanan’s words, “doesn’t look like they can lose.”