Hugo Broos urges SAFA support as World Cup preparations take shape

Speaking after naming his squad for upcoming friendlies against Panama in Durban and Cape Town this month, Broos stressed the need for strong backing from SAFA. 

The Belgian recently visited Pachuca, Mexico, which will serve as the team’s base during the tournament, and revealed plans for the squad to arrive no later than May 31 as part of their acclimatisation. 

"You know you cannot play that game in high altitude because you don't have time to adapt, and that we will do before the World Cup. Pachuca is 2300m high, and for that we will need ten days to adapt and to be ready for Mexico.

"But now going on high altitude and playing against Panama, that should be a disaster."

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Broos also wants a charter flight to Mexico to cut travel time for the players. 

"I really beg SAFA and all the people that can arrange, that we go on a charter flight. I was in Mexico a few weeks ago, and I travelled from Joburg to Atlanta. It was 16 hours in the plane. I waited three hours and then flew from Atlanta to Mexico City which was again three hours, and then from Mexico City to Pachuca it's nearly two hours with a bus. This means it takes you around 26 hours to arrive there, and when you arrive in that way in Mexico on the 31st of May, you need two or three days to recuperate.

"I told SAFA and the people who have to know it that we need a charter to fly to Mexico City directly. It will help us a lot."

Meanwhile, Broos suggested that issues around discipline and attitude played a role in their early exit at the AFCON in Morocco, warning that such standards will not be tolerated heading into the World Cup.

The coach made an example with midfielder Jayden Adams, who was dropped from the squad and missed the AFCON due to ill-discipline but has now made a comeback. 

Broos is not afraid to take the same approach again.