Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Bruce has reflected on the huge trials and tribulations on his way to winning bronze at Afcon 2023.
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Hugo Bourrus wanted to quit Bafana Bafana
According to the 71-year-old Belgian, something didn't add up about the result between the South African nation and Bafana.
The former Cameroon coach thought he was going to miss out on that possibility, but he could never have imagined the criticism that would befall him.
“I thought about it [quitting] After the away game against Morocco. [a 2-1 Afcon qualifying defeat in Rabat in July 2022]”I went home for five weeks and spoke to my former assistant coach in Belgium,” Bours said. times live.
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“We talked about what we were going to do, but I didn't want to quit.
“I was once told, “If everything is negative and there is nothing good, go now.'' [also] A voice says, “Continue.”
“The voice said, 'Believe what you believe, it will happen,' and it happened, but I was ready to quit.
“I came to South Africa with something in mind, but from the beginning I couldn't understand why the national team's performance was not normal in a country like this.
“This country must show more results than it has shown in the past 10 years.
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“I knew South Africa had potential and I was confident, but I didn't know much about South African football. I needed time,” the Bafana coach continued.
“But once we started, we realized there was a possibility of coming to South Africa to play in the Afcon and qualify for the World Cup, and we were getting closer.” [to reaching the 2022 World Cup].
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“We had to play a different game in the World Cup qualifiers.” [when he was thinking of leaving, against Ghana away]but everything is possible and it gave me the energy to move on.
too many critics
“But after France and Morocco, there was so much criticism that I thought about quitting.
“What people said was too much, but I have always been a winner and I wanted to leave something behind from South Africa,” confessed the Bafana tactician.
“[And then] Suddenly everything falls into place, we start winning, we qualify for the Afcon, and the players start believing.
“We won against Morocco in the final group match.” [of the qualifiers, at FNB Stadium in June this year] And suddenly there is a belief that maybe something can be done.
“The relationship with the players is good and the relationship between them and me is also very good and this is the basis for good results,” the Bafana tactician concluded.
You can read more articles by Siseko Gwegwe here.