When he took over the national team in 2021, his leadership style and approach were met with skepticism. He implemented changes that were seen as bold, such as moving away from relying on senior players over the age of 30 and focusing on nurturing young talent, but Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos' decisions have gradually proven to be the right ones.
His honest assessment of the state of South African football also raised eyebrows, but Broos remained confident in his methods.
Looking back, Broos' approach has been vindicated.
Under his leadership, Bafana Bafana secured a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a significant achievement that demonstrated the progress the team had made. Broos' focus on youth, discipline, and hard work has helped the team gain confidence, and the results speak for themselves.
Broos himself acknowledged that the early stages of his tenure were difficult, admitting there were moments when he questioned his future.
"There were tough moments in the beginning," Broos told the Siya crew in a recent interview.
"For me, it was clear, I will do it my way, and if things did not succeed, then I'd take my luggage and go back to Belgium. But I didn't want to be in front of the mirror and saying, 'Why did I listen to this one? Or why did I do what this one said to do?'"
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Broos' persistence paid off when the team began to gain momentum, with the crucial 2-0 victory over Liberia securing their qualification for the 2023 AFCON. This success was followed by further positive results, and the team's growing confidence was evident.
"You start winning games, and the team is starting to gain confidence and believe in themselves," Broos explained.
Despite the progress, Broos admitted that there were moments when he contemplated stepping down, particularly after a disappointing start to the 2026 AFCON qualifiers.
"I went to Belgium, and I said, 'Okay, I don't know if I will return. But there was something inside me that said, 'Don't quit, and look what happens.' And okay, we succeeded."
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Now, with Bafana Bafana qualifying for the 2026 AFCON, Broos can look back with pride on his achievements over the past two years. His vision for a young, dynamic team is beginning to bear fruit, and his dedication to developing South African football has started to show results.
"I'm very proud of what we did in the last two years," Broos said.
