Hugo Broos may have touched a nerve with his comments about the need for more South African footballers to test themselves in Europes top leagues, but it is difficult to argue against the substance of his message. Whether popular or not, the Bafana Bafana head coach is right. Progression at international level is increasingly tied to exposure at the highest level of club football.
Bafana players need elite environmentsAt its core, football development is simple, the best players improve by competing regularly against top level opposition. That is how standards are raised, by being tested week in and week out, and surviving in elite environments. While the local game has made notable strides, it cannot replicate the intensity, tactical sophistication and physical demands of Europes top leagues.
Broos comments should not be viewed as a convenient excuse, particularly in the aftermath of Bafanas 2-1 defeat to Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. That result stands on its own, and the coach must take responsibility for his poor team selection and tactical approach. He experimented and it backfired, full stop. But to dismiss his broader point because of that setback would be short-sighted.
