"It's still too early to talk about a successor to Hugo Broos in Bafana Bafana!" Ertugral expresses his opinion! | OneFootball

There is a lot of news about the Belgian successor.

"It's still too early to talk about a successor to Hugo Broos in Bafana Bafana!" Ertugral expresses his opinion!

Although there is much talk about the successor to the Belgian coach, who decided not to complete the journey with Bafana Bafana at the end of the 2026 World Cup journey in North America.In May 2021, a visionary Belgian took charge of the South African national football team, carrying the hopes of a nation and the memory of a past triumph: leading Cameroon to victory in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Now, having announced his intention to step down after the 2026 World Cup and retire, the South African football scene is preparing to bid farewell to a coach whose legacy will be difficult to erase.

Hugo Broos, 73, has transformed his tenure into a shining chapter in the history of Bafana Bafana. Under his leadership, the team not only played attractive football but also secured a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and successfully navigated the arduous path to World Cup qualification, achieving a long-awaited milestone for the nation. These accomplishments have made him, in terms of both length of time and results, the longest-serving and most distinguished coach in the national team's history.

As Broos's reign draws to a close, a new challenge looms for the South African Football Association (SAFA). The Belgian coach set high expectations, making the task of finding a successor of his caliber a daunting and crucial one. Bruce's potential departure has sparked widespread debate: who will be worthy of shouldering this heavy responsibility?

Opinions are divided between those who believe it's time to begin the search and selection process early, to give the new coach ample time to prepare and build, and those who consider any talk of succession premature, arguing that the focus should remain on supporting Bruce in achieving his remaining goals. Regardless of the perspective, the undeniable truth is that South Africa will soon bid farewell to a coaching icon and begin the search for someone to fill the significant void he will leave behind.As public debate intensifies over who will take the helm of the South African national team following Hugo Broos' departure, veteran tactical expert Mustafa Ertugral raises a voice in favor of focus and respect for the present moment.

In an exclusive conversation with FARPost, Ertugral, the former coach of Orlando Pirates, expressed his view clearly: "I personally believe that discussing any successor for Bafana before the Africa Cup of Nations is simply not the right timing or decision. At present, the full focus must be on AFCON preparations and the World Cup."

Ertugral warns against any peripheral matters that could distract attention, emphasizing: "I truly believe anything else becomes unnecessary and a complete distraction for the team and the technical staff. I also find it premature for anyone to stand in public and declare interest in the job while there is still a coach steering the ship."

Ertugral places respect at the core of his stance, stating: "Therefore, I believe the process and the person currently leading the national team must be respected."

The seasoned coach cites examples from global football giants to support his argument on the importance of stability, noting: "If you look at great football nations like Germany, Spain, and France, you find they protect the idea of continuity."

Ertugral touches on a specific succession scenario he considers logical: "I have often seen that the assistant coach, who has been deeply involved in the work in recent years and, most importantly, understands the internal process, becomes a natural choice for me to continue the cycle, doesn't it?"

Ertugral concludes by summarizing his vision for the ideal path forward for the South African Football Association, seeing that "continuity could also be a very strong and sensible choice for South Africa." He is confident that "the committee will make the selection quietly. Those decisions should not be made in the public eye, but rather with planning, timing, and respect."

His current priority remains clear and evident: "Right now, the priority is: supporting the current team, staying focused on the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup path, and avoiding external distractions. Everything else will fall into place after the World Cup cycle."