Broos draws on Springbok spirit to lift Bafana

FOOTBALL MEETS RUGBY

- MIHLALI BALEKA.

BAFANA Bafana head coach Hugo Broos with Springbok counterpart Rassie Erasmus.

(Rassie Erasmus/ X)

HUGO Broos has been hogging the headlines after restoring the country’s pride by leading Bafana Bafana to automatic qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the Americas.

Bafana’s qualification for the global event - which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States - revived the longstanding mantra that "South Africa is a footballing nation.” Notably, it has been more than two decades since Bafana last qualified for the showpiece, having appeared merely as hosts in 2010.

During the country’s absence from the global football stage, it was the national rugby team, the Springboks, that hoisted the flag high. They are record four-time world champions, having won the last two editions in 2019 and 2023 respectively, to add to their 1995 and 2007 triumphs.

While many around the world could only envy them, Broos looked at the Springboks’ achievements and passion for their game as motivation.

After initially meeting current coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siyamthanda Kolisi twice this year, Broos found it fitting to follow in their footsteps and return to the biggest sporting event of all: the World Cup.

Ironically, it was at the very stadium where the Springboks lifted their maiden World Cup crown in 1995 that Broos - after being photographed with Erasmus and Kolisi before the game - fell in love with the national rugby team.

“Springboks are a big inspiration for the players,” Broos admitted. “The way they sing the national anthem; you can see there’s so much passion in these guys.