South Africa coach Hugo Broos has launched a strong defence of his methods, telling critics to “shut up” as Bafana Bafana prepare for a crucial Group A clash against Czechia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The veteran Belgian manager has come under heavy criticism following South Africa’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening match, where his side adopted a cautious approach and failed to register a meaningful attacking threat.
The defeat was made worse by two second-half red cards, leaving Bafana Bafana with nine men by the final whistle and facing an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s encounter in Atlanta, Broos dismissed criticism from social media and former players, insisting he would continue to manage the team in his own way.
“I’ve been a coach for 40 years, and I know criticism comes with the job,” Broos said.
“For those who still don’t know it, I do it my way. I never listen to the trash on social media. I never listen to people who think they are important enough to criticise the team.”
The 73-year-old also took aim at former players who have questioned his tactics.
“When I look at what some of them achieved before, I think it would be better if they just shut up,” he added.
Broos acknowledged that South Africa made mistakes against Mexico but said both he and his players were fully aware of what went wrong.
“I know what went wrong against Mexico. The players know it too, and that’s the most important thing. For the rest, I will continue to do it my way.”
South Africa enter the Czechia match knowing defeat would all but end their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
Czechia are also under pressure after losing their opening Group A fixture against South Korea, making Thursday’s contest a high-stakes encounter for both nations.
“Our situation is clear,” Broos said.
“If we don’t win tomorrow, then our final game against South Korea will mean nothing. We have to avoid that.”
The coach admitted he had protected his players from public criticism after the Mexico defeat and suggested his post-match comments may not have fully reflected his true feelings.
“Some people say the coach is too soft on his players, but I don’t like blaming players in front of cameras. Sometimes you have to lie a little bit as a coach.”
Broos also hinted at a more proactive approach against Czechia after South Africa struggled to keep possession and create chances in their opener.
“We know what went wrong in the game against Mexico and we will try to improve that tomorrow,” he said.
“But we can only improve if we have the ball.”
With their World Cup future hanging in the balance, South Africa will be hoping to respond positively and keep their qualification hopes alive heading into the final round of group matches.
