Bafana's AFCON prep under strain as Broos manages fatigue

PERHAPS Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos was being pragmatic. Perhaps diplomatic. Or perhaps optimistic. But the truth is, Bafana having only one international friendly during this Fifa week is far from ideal.

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Broos defended the decision recently, citing player fatigue.

"When you see the programme in the PSL at the moment," Broos said, "the players are playing every three days.

"I wanted to save them a little bit with another two games with the national team. Every game with the national team, I ask the player to go 100%.

"With all the games they are playing now, it is better to play only one game, a good game, than playing two games with players who are suffering from fatigue. We have played a lot of games this year already, so I don't think we need another two games."

Far be it from being overly critical of Broos. After all, he has secured qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year and followed that up with a ticket to the US, Canada, and Mexico for next year's Fifa World Cup.