Broos’ AFCON preliminary squad: Hope or heartbreak for fringe players?

COMMENT

BAFANA BAFANA coach Hugo Broos is set to sentence a little over 20 players to a bleak festive period, when he eventually announces the final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from late next month.

One has to wonder: was it really necessary for the silver-haired coach to release such a large preliminary squad on Monday?

Broos named a 55-man list for the biennial continental showpiece, which runs from December 21 to January 18. It is common practice, of course, for coaches to name an extended squad prior to making their final selection.

With a few weeks of football remaining, coaches are aware that standout performances or injuries may occur, so having a larger pool provides flexibility.

The reality, however, is that too often they know exactly which players they want, and the players themselves are aware of their realistic chances of making the squad. Still, hope springs eternal, and there will no doubt be stellar performances from those in the 55-man squad in the hope of swaying the Belgian coach’s mind.

Yet, such has been Broos’ approach since taking over nearly five years ago that one need not be a rocket scientist to predict who will make the final cut. That he included six goalkeepers in a squad that essentially requires just three for a tournament where Bafana face record winners Egypt, as well as Angola and Zimbabwe in the group stage, beggars belief.

Broos is essentially encouraging the trio of Renaldo Leaner, Darren Johnson and Brandon Petersen to maintain their good form. It is his way of signalling, ‘we recognise what you are doing, boys,’ because in reality, he will take captain Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss to Morocco.

That is, unless any of the latter trio suffers an injury before departure.

With South Africa set to compete in the Fifa World Cup next year, there is perhaps a silver lining for players with little chance of cracking the AFCON squad – think Fezile Ngceba, Keegan Allan, Vuyo Letlapa, Siphesihle Maduna, to name just four.

The fact that Broos has noticed them should inspire them to perform well for their clubs in the remaining matches of the year and into the season restart in late January, knowing they still have a chance.

Broos has proven himself loyal and is most likely to stick with tried and tested players when announcing the final squad. In truth, most South African football fans could probably pick the 23-man squad even before he does.

While inclusion in the preliminary squad is encouraging, players should be mindful of their realistic chances and guard against raising false hopes, sparing themselves a bleak festive period.