Broos pops a cold one as Bafana celebrate World Cup return

Hugo Broos has brought the nation together. He even had a brewski — Castle Lager — to show for it, carrying it during his post-match press conference at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.

Broos guided Bafana to their first Fifa World Cup since 2002, after they beat Rwanda 3-0 in the last qualifier in Nelspruit. Broos’ reaction was clearly elated for a moment, showing it by bursting open a cold one during his post-match conference in Nelspruit.

Broos deserved that.

His Bafana side had achieved the improbable, automatically qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time since the 2002 edition. They last qualified for the global showpiece merely as hosts in 2010.

Bafana’s qualification was far from easy, too. They had to beat Rwanda in the last qualifier on Tuesday in Nelspruit, while also needing Nigeria to blank Benin in another qualifier in Uyo.

These two results went their way. They beat Rwanda 3-0 in their last qualifier — courtesy of goals from Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, who walked away with the Man of the Match award, and Evidence Makgopa. Nigeria, meanwhile, also got the job done at home, trouncing Benin 4-0.

Broos reserved special praise for his assistant Helman Mkhalele, who made sure that he gained a better understanding of the team in the last few years.

“Without him, we wouldn’t have achieved what we wanted to, especially without someone like Helman because you all know that I like him very much,” Broos said. “Without him, we couldn't have achieved that.

“I insist that we see what the players did in the last three years. I did say that sometimes, we use different criteria than you (the media) do.”

The spotlight went to Broos, having led Bafana to the promised land—the global event which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year. The Belgian refused to take the credit, though.

“But it’s not only my staff. It’s also the medical staff, kit manager, security, and team manager. We are a bunch of people who have one goal, which is to perform well. I don’t think this is only for my own.”

Broos continued the celebrations to the dressing room as he was caught on camera by the Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie singing with the players, while he was soaking wet.

The Belgian brought so much joy to the country that after wild celebrations after the game at the World Cup venue, McKenzie took the qualification news to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was clearly on a plane somewhere at the time.

Broos and his gallant Bafana team will now turn their focus to the upcoming AFCON showpiece in Morocco later this year. And should the Belgian achieve a better finish than the third-place spot they achieved at the last continental showpiece, he’d be deserving to burst open another can of a cold beer. He’d have earned it!