Saturday will be a big day for football in South Africa. A good crowd is expected at the FNB Stadium as Bafana Bafana hosts Africa’s best-ranked national team Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifications. It’s one of those games every fan, player, and coach would love to win, of course. We have no doubt South Africa coach Hugo Broos would like it too, but the way he speaks about the game indicates the Belgian is not overly confident.One of the most important aspects of a football manager is to manage the supporters’ expectations. It just goes with the job. There are times when it’s just too obvious – case in point, Mr Broos. Speaking ahead of the game, the 2017 AFCON winning-coach was a little too relaxed.”We are in front of us having a very difficult game against a very good opponent. Just look at the performance of our players, look how good we are or still bad we are. But for me it will be a very interesting game and I will not be angry if we lose. I’d be very happy if we draw and I can’t explain how I feel if we win.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7311901##Bafana Bafana, just like the Atlas Lions, have already secured qualification as group winners and runners-up, respectively. But playing in such a big stadium against Morocco, whose coach Walid Regragui decided to bring all his best players, requires the 71-year-old tactician is more proactive. Making a statement and getting the nation fully behind the team is essential ahead of the AFCON finals. Morocco are the highest-ranked African side globally, occupying the 11th spot, while they are ranked first by CAF. Meanwhile, the 2010 World Cup hosts are 66th in the FIFA rankings and 12th on the continent.’Don’t expect miracles,’ – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos ahead of Morocco clash. pic.twitter.com/jkunbWAEsy— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 8, 2023 The talkative coach claimed that his team cannot be compared to Morocco or any other major country after Bafana’s 5-0 friendly loss against France last year.”You must understand that if you play against teams like Morocco and France, you are the weakest team. Don’t dream that at this moment you have players as good as they are. The reality is that they are a much better team than we are at the moment. So don’t ask for miracles, even when you lose 3-0 or 4-0, even if there is a good part of that. I was furious after France about the criticism we received!”South Africa 🇿🇦 coach Hugo Broos 🗣: “South Africa were in the World Cup because it was a present 🎁” 😬😳😂🥶 pic.twitter.com/BMEo5Sj8VN— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) June 14, 2022 Broos, who previously had spells with the Cameroon national team, as well as Kabylie and Nasr Athletique Hussein Dey in Algeria, tried to manage the public’s expectations even in case of a win.”If we win against Morocco, don’t think that we have a world team, don’t think. But it will be a big step, that is true.”
