Hugo Broos talks about why he took off young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi against Zimbabwe! | OneFootball

The Belgian coach has his own vision.

Hugo Broos talks about why he took off young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi against Zimbabwe!

In the wake of a crushing blow to South Africa's World Cup dreams, national team coach Hugo Broos has stepped forward as a defender of his own player. Following a tense and ill-tempered 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe, Broos has publicly absolved young Mbekezeli Mbokazi of any blame for his sending-off, a moment that further complicated a night of high stakes and higher emotions.

The stalemate at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium was more than just two points dropped; it was a devastating outcome for Bafana Bafana. The result effectively shattered their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving them trailing group leaders Benin by a critical two points, a gap that now seems a chasm with only one match remaining.

The game itself was a fiery, physical battle, reflected in the referee's pocket, from which two red cards emerged. The first dismissal saw Zimbabwe's veteran forward and former Kaizer Chiefs man, Knowledge Musona, given his marching orders after a second bookable offense. Yet, it was the second red card, shown to South Africa's Mbokazi, that prompted Broos to make a firm and public stance, shielding his young charge from criticism in a moment of collective disappointment.

What did Broos say about the player?

In the aftermath of a devastating result, coach Hugo Broos became a shield for his young defender, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, framing his costly red card not as a failure of discipline, but as a testament to his burning desire to win.

Rather than criticizing the 20-year-old for the dismissal that marred his professional debut, Broos commended his fierce competitive spirit. He painted a picture of a passionate player overwhelmed by frustration as South Africa's World Cup hopes evaporated before his eyes. The coach insisted that the high-stakes environment and the aggressive provocations from an opponent were the true catalysts for the incident.

“This guy got frustrated, and he knew that with the results, we would be in trouble. So, he had it two times; the aggressiveness of the Zimbabwean player made him nervous,” he said. “That was something that a young player does, so I don’t blame him for that. It is something that he must learn. He is still young. What do you want?"

Broos further elaborated, connecting the young player's reaction to the very heart of a competitor, suggesting that such raw emotion, while needing refinement, stems from a commendable source.

“This guy wants to win, and you can see it in his way of playing. If then a guy like the player of Zimbabwe went so aggressively two times on him, you can’t accept it, but you can understand that it happens,” added Broos as Mbokazi got his first red card in his professional career.

Ultimately, the Bafana Bafana mentor drew a firm line, separating the player's personal moment of frustration from the collective outcome of the match. He concluded with a definitive stance, absolving the youngster of the weight of the team's failure.

“Okay, that red card was not the reason why today [Friday] we didn’t win the game.”