Hugo Broos closing on Bafana Bafana longest-serving coach record

Today marks three years and four months – approximately 1 218 days – since Broos was introduced as Bafana coach at the SABC studios in Auckland Park on 5 May 2021. 

Since then, the team came agonisingly close to 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification and reached the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals for the first time in 24 years, with Zwane reflecting on the Belgian tactician’s contribution so far.

"I think the coach has done a lot, he has brought that brotherhood into the team, and that winning mentality into the team. You have seen in the games we have played – that fighting spirit, and he has brought belief that whoever we face, we can fight and try to win," said Zwane.

"I think [he has contributed hugely to] that fighting spirit and his motivation, and I think he has done well since he came in."

Barker won the maiden AFCON title with Bafana Bafana in 1996 before qualifying the nation to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in France in 1998, with his stint of three years and nine months from March 1994 until December 1997 remaining the longest ever.

But Broos is likely to eclipse this record in March next year, and says staying the course and being consistent is what has been the key to his staying power.

"Three years ago, I was new here, I didn't know the players and they didn't know me, but as a coach, when you have a plan and you keep to that plan, it makes it easier for the players," he said.

"I think since the beginning, the players felt what I wanted and what I didn't want. And if you continue with that, automatically you build something up.

"When you are a coach, and tomorrow you say it's black, but after tomorrow you say it's white, it doesn't work. Even if you're wrong, and you stick to what you think you have to do, that helps you get respect from the players because they see everyone is equal.

"The decisions taken today, and tomorrow or in six weeks they are the same decision, so that makes it easier to build a group because all those guys who don't like or don't have the right mentality, I've kept them away from the team.

"But you also need results – you can do what you want, if results are not coming, [even if] you do things the right way, it's finished. So, little by little, the results came and okay, now everybody is happy."

READ: Nasreddine Nabi welcomes Njabulo Blom’s return to Kaizer Chiefs