Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has revived a good feel around the national team, with the recent upsurge mainly attributed to the influence of Mamelodi Sundowns players. But is the reason for change of fortunes that simple?
At the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Bafana virtually had a line-up comprising Sundowns players, with Sphephelo Sithole and Percy Tau the only other players not playing for The Brazilians.
Even with the likes of Oswin Appollis and Elias Mokwana starting to feature more consistency for South Africa, Broos' line-up still has the majority from the Brazilians, with players such Iqraam Rayners and Bathusi Aubaas adding to the Masandawana contingent.
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There are currently question marks on why players such as Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau have not been doing well at club level this season but were impressive for Bafana, even though both players were selected after missing a few games for The Brazilians.
According to Hunt, what makes Broos successful at Bafana is the way he has simplified things with a 4-4-2 formation.
"Going back to the basics! 4-4-2, very simple, keep it simple, no complications. I think [Themba] Zwane and guys like Mokoena, because of the simplicity, they've really blossomed," Hunt said on Soccerbeat YouTube Channel.
"I mean the full-backs, I know they are all Sundowns players but the simplicity of the thing [makes them] to blossom, keep a striker up there, can run the channels, work hard, play off a second ball, wide players.
"Two good midfield players, they can get up and down, keep the shape, they can shift in front of the back-four, it's very simple and very effective. It just shows you sometimes that simplicity as coaches is the best way to go. We try to complicate a lot of things you know," the former Kaizer Chiefs coach admitted.
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Mngqithi has changed Sundowns' formation from a 4-4-2 that was played by former coach Rulani Mokwena, to a 4-3-3, which Mokoena in particular, has seemingly struggled to adapt to so far.
After scoring a brace for Bafana against Congo in a 5-0 win, 'Tebza' eventually made his first league start against Royal AM in a 2-1 win, where he was anonymous, in a team performance Mngqithi described as "untidy" and full of "tactical errors".
