Hugo Broos revels in his conditioning and analysis team ahead of crucial Tunisia game

Bafana beat Namibia 4-0 on Sunday just a day after Tunisia had played a one-all draw against Mali.

With the weather conditions here in Korhogo, north of Côte d’Ivoire, this could mean a lot of pressure but with a top physical conditioner like the Saudi Arabian-based Kopano Melesi, Broos is at ease.

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"We have one day lesser than Tunisia after playing two games. I think with the victory of Sunday, what I saw yesterday on training it will not be a problem. The motivation is so high, so big in our team,” Broos said.

“The mentality is so good and they know that we can achieve something that we all wished when we came here. So, I think they are ready to go to the limits tomorrow and we will fight for every minute and every second of the game to have a good result and to achieve that second too."

Melesi is well-travelled as the conditioning coach, he’s an Honours Graduate in Sports Science and Exercise from the University of Free State (Kovsies) and has worked with the University of Sports South Africa (USSA), worked as head of Football conditioning at Kovsies, went to the U20 AFCONS and World Cups with Thabo Senong’s Amajita side (2017 & 2019).

"Very, very important and maybe now the physical coach is maybe the most important. He had to show us and tell us what we can do and how we have to do it. We have to try to have a recuperated team tomorrow [this evening] at kick off,” added Broos.

“So, tomorrow [this evening] it was only half an hour not more. Today it will be a little bit more but not really training because you need to be careful, very careful with the fatigue but don't worry about it and see how the players are. See how they are on training - they enjoy it and that is important and we will be ready tomorrow [this evening]."

Melesi is currently a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Mahd Academy in Saudi after spending four years at the famed Aspire Football Academy in Qatar.

Another aspect of Bafana’s improved technical preparations has been their match performance analysis area, where they brought in former Kaizer Chiefs technical scout and analyst Sinesipho Mali.

With AFCON U23 and the 2022 Women’s World Cup experience with Banyana Banyana, this is the level that the SABC Sport football analyst understands very well. The analysis is also in how the team approaches its matches and Broos was non-committal with how they will tactically approach the Tunisia game.

"I can't tell you how we are going to play tomorrow, I think you understand why. Secondly, it was a different opponent. At the start of the game on Sunday, we knew that we had to win. If we didn't win against Namibia, it was finished for us.

“So, there are different things that we are taking into account for the game of Sunday. So, what we will do tomorrow, you will see tomorrow [this evening] on the kick off."