Hugo Broos salutes Bafana Bafana support staff ahead of World Cup

Bafana attended a send-off event at sponsors Standard Bank’s headquarters in Rosebank, Johannesburg today, with fans and staff celebrating the national team’s reawakening and their qualification for their first World Cup since 2010. 

With the 74-year-old tactician set to announce his final 26-man squad for the 2026 showpiece at the Union Buildings, alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight, he highlighted the important role of his support staff and assistant Helman Makhalele. 

"Thank you for all the nice words I've heard already until now, but I have to tell you that this is not the work of one man – it's not the work from me only, I have a wonderful staff and wonderful players, it's a wonderful family of 40 people who worked hard to achieve that," said Broos.

"So, again, thank you to my staff, the players and to everyone for having achieved what we have achieved until now, especially – and it's not the first time I do this – but especially for one man who helped me from the first day I came here, Helman Mkhalele."

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Broos, who is heading to his first World Cup as a head coach, and only his second in 40 years since he last played at the tournament with Belgium in Mexico 1986, was also touched by the reception the team received this morning. 

"Secondly, I'm 74 years old, I've had a career of 55 years and I can assure you, when I see it today, it has never happened in my career that I've felt the same warmth and support, so thank you for that," he concluded.