Broos is happy after both Mamelodi Sundowns and Chiefs were knocked out of the Carling Knockout Cup! | OneFootball

Broos is happy after both Mamelodi Sundowns and Chiefs were knocked out of the Carling Knockout Cup!

In a surprising twist of fate, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has found a silver lining in the early Carling Knockout Cup exits of domestic giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. While the eliminations were shocks to the football world, for the national team boss, they represent a crucial tactical advantage ahead of the upcoming AFCON tournament.

The Belgian manager, 73, has once again found himself at odds with the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) scheduling. His desire for an earlier start to the national team camp was thwarted by the league's commitment to the Carling Knockout final, a repeat of a familiar frustration for Broos.

“Again, I hoped to start a little bit earlier, but yeah, for the second time, PSL didn’t want to collaborate a little bit because there’s the final of the Carling [Knockout Cup],” Broos stated, echoing his past criticisms about the lack of synergy between the PSL and the South African Football Association (SAFA).

However, this administrative disappointment was tempered by the unexpected results on the pitch. “Maybe they don’t like it,” Broos admitted with candor, “but I’m very happy Sundowns and Chiefs already are out.” His relief is strategic; with key players from these clubs now free from cup duties, his access to them for a full, uninterrupted preparatory camp is significantly improved.

The roadmap to Morocco is now set. Bafana Bafana will convene on December 8th at the Pretoria University High Performance Centre for a intensive training block, departing for Africa's premier tournament on December 17th. This plan ensures the squad is acclimatized in Morocco a full five days before they step onto the pitch at the Grand Stade de Marrakech to open their 2025 AFCON campaign against Angola on December 22nd. For Broos, the path to continental success just became a little clearer.