Minister of Sports, Art and Culture Gayton McKenzie. SPORTS, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has thrown his weight behind Bafana Bafana following their disappointing run at AFCON, saying coach Hugo Broos and his team must still be acknowledged for the strides they have made. A dejected Bafana team landed back at OR Tambo International Airport Wednesday morning after their last-16 exit at the ongoing showpiece in Morocco.
They were welcomed by McKenzie, who was draped in a South African flag, and a handful of supporters whose round of applause tried to wipe off the disappointment that was written all over their faces as they exited the arrival terminal. As a result of their eventual failure, some angry Bafana supporters called for Broos’ head, and not allow him to lead the team at this year’s Fifa World Cup in North America. Those critics argued that Broos’ tactics are no longer working for Bafana.
While McKenzie initially expressed his annoyance at Broos for saying AFCON lacked a “vibe”, which he said came across as an insult to the host nation, he backed the coach to continue in his role until the global showpiece after earning his stripes over the years. “Hugo Broos is going nowhere, and I want to make that clear. Hugo Broos is absolutely going nowhere.
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Hugo Broos is going to Mexico — that’s where Hugo Broos is going,” McKenzie said. “We can’t have this mentality where people are just going, going, going.”
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