Truter Calls For Pitso, Rulani To Take Bafana To World Cup

Brandon Truter. Photo: Gallo Images/Philip Maeta

Former Moroka Swallows and Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter has cast doubt over the suitability of Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the first hurdle of the knockout stages, after a 2-1 defeat to Cameroon in the round of 16.

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Truter has questioned whether the World Cup campaign in June could be too much for the Belgian, who would be 74 by then, as he believes South Africa needs a tonic to uplift the energies of the players, particularly from the bench.

“How old is he now? We still have Pitso (Mosimane), Rulani (Mokwena) out there who can really lead this team. Pitso has grown so much, he has shown his mettle and has travelled the continent, the world,” Truter said, speaking to the Siya crew.

“And Rulani keeps on showing that he is one of the best. At the World Cup (with Broos), I think we will be found wanting; at the AFCON, we were exposed.

“I think some serious thought process is needed to really analyse internally. Because of the AFCON in the last 16, now you’re asking yourself, ‘Are we getting out of the World Cup group? The World Cup is a bigger stage,” Truter said.

“Hugo Broos is a good father figure, and he manages the group well. You can see the players absolutely love him, but being on the touchline, supporting, because sometimes the energy of the coach goes towards the players.

“Where is the drive coming from the bench? I think Hugo only stood up when we scored or a VAR decision, that’s the only time I saw him up on his feet, there’s no vocal point coming from the bench. Helman (Mkhalele, assistant) is also a nice guy, very humble, so yeah.

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“I would like to see one of our own (given a chance going to the World Cup), because as local coaches we’re being downplayed, we’re not given the benefit of the doubt. Look at our big three (Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs) at the moment, look out of the last decade, eight out of ten times local coaches won the league,” the former Sekhukhune United coach concluded.

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