Bafana Bafana’s CAF awards nominations signify progress – Hugo Broos

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is one of the Coach of the Year nominees, with Bafana nominated in the Team of the Year category.

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But all eyes will be on the skipper and the nation’s number one, Ronwen Williams, who is nominated in three categories.

Bafana Bafana is featuring prominently in these awards for the first time in a very long time.

Broos says this talks to the progress of the team.

''The only thing I can say is that it makes me proud. When you look at what we have done in the past two-years in terms of results, you can tell everybody is happy. There's a positive environment  and atmosphere around this team. When I came here, there was nothing positive, so we changed a lot. The coach of Morocco came to me after beating Morocco, he said you don't play anymore like South Africa - that was a nice criticism from a colleague, so that means we have changed something,'' said Broos.

Bafana Bafana finished third at the AFCON and returned home with a bronze medal for the first time in 24 years.

Broos’ who will become the longest-serving Bafana Bafana coach ever in May next year, looks back at what they have had to do to get the team to its current level.

''We had to change something, it is good on the technical side. I see even when I watch the PSL, and that was missing. So what we missed is power and direct game and that is what we got to introduce,'' added Broos.

At the AFCON, the turning point was the opening game against Mali, where Bafana lost after having missed a penalty in the first half.

But the Belgian-born coach, who is up against the AFCON-winning coach Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast) and Sebastien Desabre (DRC), recalls how they went on to have four clean sheets in the tournament after that game.

''And even the game against Mali, we lost because of the lack of Power. We told the players, that guys, if we keep playing this way, we will not succeed. You see how  we play now the ball is going forward,'' he expressed.

Williams is a favourite for the CAF Inter-Club Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year categories but has stiff competition for the leading award, the CAF Player of the Year.

Broos says the players deserve all the credit for the progress Bafana Bafana has made since he arrived in the country three years ago.