Broos defends controversial call to have all 32 players at announcement dinner

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he believes it was the right call to have all 32 players present at the squad announcement gala, during which six would not make the final 26-man squad heading to the World Cup.

Broos and SAFA (South African Football Federation) have come under fire over the manner in which the final 26-man squad was announced.

All 32 players were requested to be present at the Gala dinner at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House at the Union Buildings complex in Pretoria, where President Cyril Ramaphosa held a send-off dinner.

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The 26 selected would later be called, one by one, to the stage, leaving the unselected backstage - a scene that left a bitter taste within a section of the football community. According to reports, the players not selected found out at the same time as the public of their non-selection.

Broos confirmed in a press conference that he had offered the six players a chance to spend more time with the squad. However, the group opted to leave immediately after the send-off dinner.

In the same presser, the Belgian mentor explained, from his perspective, why he preferred to have all 32 players present.

"I am a coach who believes very much in being a group,” Broos said at the press conference.

"For me, there is no player who is above the group because one player can’t win a game, you will win a game with a group."

"The group is not only 11, like today, it is 26 players. I wanted to keep this group together even in bad moments."

"For me, it would be worse for the players if yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon I told them, 'look guys, go home because you are not with the 26.'

"That should not be honest towards them, and that is why I kept them together. They went to the event with the President and knew the decision there, which was disappointing for them, but they were still members of Bafana Bafana."

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"That was solely important, so I think even if it was a disappointment, and not a good moment for the players, they were here yesterday evening, not saying you are out, but just I am not with the 26," Broos further stated.

"I think it was not so bad compared to if I should have said it yesterday afternoon and told them; 'go home guys, you will not even go with us to the President.' That is what I wanted to avoid and to let them feel that I was confident in them, but then, I had to make a choice that had nothing to do with whatever, just making the choices."