Broos vents fury at ‘unprofessional’ Pirates star Mbokazi

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has launched a furious attack on Orlando Pirates and departing defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi after the player’s late arrival at the national team camp in Pretoria.

The South African squad is currently training ahead of their departure next week for the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] in Morocco, where they will face Ghana’s B team in a warm-up friendly on December 16.

However, the preparations were overshadowed by the delayed arrival of the young defender, who missed his flight from Durban to Gauteng.

A visibly irate Broos confirmed his displeasure to the media, stating the situation was an “unprofessional attitude” and slammed Pirates for attempting to excuse the player’s behaviour.

“Mbokazi, he just arrived or will arrive in 15 minutes,” Broos told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday. “I didn’t want to talk about it, but you asked the question, and you have the right to know that I’m not pleased about it.”

Furious Broos Blasts Mbokazi Over Missed Flight

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The Belgian mentor revealed that the club, not the player, informed him of the delay.

“He let us know that he missed his flight yesterday in Durban, it was the coach of Pirates who informed me. And he was very angry that he missed his flight because, and that’s his word, ‘it’s an unprofessional attitude’,” Broos stated.

Broos then sharply criticised the Buccaneers’ management for providing an unsatisfactory explanation for the player’s absence.

“Then Pirates sent me a message with nonsense – really nonsense, why he missed his flight, and I will not tell you what they said – and that is the worst thing that a club protects the player for his unprofessional attitude.”

Broos framed the incident as a wider issue concerning player conduct in South Africa.

“I think I spoke already to you about the unprofessional attitude of South African players. Again, an example of it. This is South Africa, and this is very bad, very, very bad.”

The coach attributed the defender’s lax attitude to his impending move to Chicago Fire.

“When you’re a 19-year-old guy, and you receive a call-up from the national team for AFCON… if you are somebody with a good attitude, you don’t even want those two days, and you are here on Monday with the other players,” he said.

Broos concluded his tirade with a warning, implying a significant dressing down for the player.

“So, I will have a chat with him after training. And I can assure you, he is a black guy, and he will get out of my room as a white guy. Because I can’t accept. But I know why, I know why. Suddenly, Mboki is a star – he thinks he is a star!”

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