Bafana Bafana: Our Light at the End of the Tunnel – 2026 FIFA World Cup, here we come.
- activateeditor
- Oct 17
- 3 min read
By Kabelo Mafiri
We are not the happiest country in the world right now. Our economic situation weighs heavy, corruption persists among political officials, and crime, GBV, and unemployment plague our communities. In a nutshell, we are in a subtle state of disaster. But as the saying goes, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Bafana Bafana gave us exactly that light—the hope to keep our spirits high, the belief that things will eventually fall into place, and that our people will one day enjoy living in our country again.
It hasn't been an easy journey. Many had already written Bafana Bafana off. We were no longer considered one of the best teams on the African continent. We had failed to live up to expectations, not because we lacked talent, resources, or support, but because we lacked the right leadership. We needed someone with zero tolerance for mediocrity and favouritism, someone who would prioritize the country's success over everything else.
It turned out we only needed Hugo Broos.
Our Belgian tactician's appointment in 2021 was met with criticism. The thinking was simple: shouldn't South Africa be coached by someone who knows the ins and outs of our country? It makes sense on the surface, but football is much more than that. After coaches like Molefi Ntseki, Pitso Mosimane, and Stuart Baxter failed to revitalize the team, Broos was exactly what we needed.
He started by scrutinizing everything—the standard of our football, the culture within the setup, and the underperforming players from the South African big three: Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns. Coach Broos had a massive task ahead. He inherited a team that was no longer the hope of the nation. People had stopped going to stadiums because the team had become an embarrassment, devoid of joy.
First, he instilled the importance of playing for the national team in South African players. He made them hungry to be called up, to fight for the badge. Second, he shifted his attention to youngsters, regardless of which professional local clubs they played for. He believed youngsters still have a point to prove and are hungry for success, unlike the established big names.
People didn't agree with his strategies. They thought he had an ego, that he harboured hatred for certain clubs and players. But all he was doing was believing in his methods, and they worked. Therefore, following his appointment, Broos made a bold declaration: “If I fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, I will resign.” This statement immediately signalled his ambitious vision and unwavering commitment to South African football.
Our national team started showing signs of improvement year after year. We began beating opponents with players from top European clubs, Morocco, Egypt and Nigeria—with our own local talent. This was the first clear sign to us South Africans that, our players had been mediocre not because they weren't good enough, but because they needed someone with plain honesty, clear strategies, and deep experience of the game.
Under the leadership of our Belgian tactician—nicknamed "Ric Flair" by the fans—we finished third at the 2023 AFCON finals and claimed a Bronze medal. Now, we have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after 15 years, since we last hosted the tournament in 2010. Broos is now the longest-serving Bafana Bafana coach in history, and that makes perfect sense given what he's achieved with us. He might not be the fanciest tactician in the world, but he has a winning mentality, and that is what we need as a country. People don't care about you trying—they only care about results. And that is what Broos delivers every chance he gets.
This will be our fourth World Cup appearance in our history, and it will surely be a memorable one with Coach Hugo on the sidelines guiding us.
Let's fix those visas and book those flight tickets. Our country is back where it belongs: on the global stage.
#No DNA, Just RSA
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