Broos gears up for Jamaica test and provides an update on Modiba

Bafana arrived in Mexico yesterday and headed straight to their base in Pachuca, where they settled at their hotel before heading to the training grounds later in the day for their first session. In Jamaica, they are meeting a team ranked 74th in the world, and Broos says this is the test they need for the opening game.

"That is something we needed. We played against Nicaragua last week, but the time between that game and the first game against Mexico was too long. So I am happy with Jamaica; they're ranked 74th, so it will be a good opponent. For us, it will be the last test before that opening game, so again, I am very happy with it. I will not make any declarations. For me, I have something in my head, and I will see if we can use that in our first game against Mexico," said Broos.

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Bafana meet the hosts – Mexico in the opening Group A game on the 11th of this month, at the iconic Azteca stadium, in a group that also has South Korea and Czechia. Jamaica is also a team that nearly qualified for the World Cup, as they lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo 

One of the main reasons for Broos to arrive early in Mexico is to settle in early and acclimatise to the high-altitude weather conditions. With experience of having been in Mexico, 40 years ago, as a Belgian player during the 1986 World Cup, he already knows what to expect.

"We needed that, as I have experience from 50 years ago with the Belgian team. We were also in a high-altitude camp in Switzerland. So, I knew that we needed that. We are one day late, but that cannot influence the adaptation to high altitude. If it were in two or three days, it would be a big problem, but tomorrow we are there, and we can start to adapt, so it's not a problem that we are a day late."

The good news from the Bafana Bafana camp is that Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Aubrey Modiba could be ready for the opening game against Mexico, after he arrived in camp with some uncertainty, as he was recovering from a hamstring injury. Broos confirmed on Monday that he will miss the Jamaica game, but he’s looking good for the World Cup opener.

"I think Aubrey is very close to training with the group if everything goes well for him. I don't expect him for the game against Jamaica; we will not take any risks with him. But I am very sure he will be there for the opening game."