Bafana Bafana endured a 10-hour journey from Johannesburg to Butare, Rwanda, ahead of Tuesday’s crunch 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the East-Central African country.
South African senior men’s national team Coach Hugo Bross bemoaned the strenuous traveling that was involved and was also not happy with the state of the pitch the team encountered on arrival.
“It is not only the flight, but the three-hour bus trip to Butare. When I looked at the images of Huye Stadium, the pitch is poor. Let us just make good decisions for traveling and for playing,” he said.
The trip was taxing on the whole team, but at the end of the day they are professionals and the game needs to played on Tuesday. “I think now with the group we have it’s not such a problem. The Team wants to go far in the World Cup, and they will go far. They all know these type of situations and through it all the mindset remains positive, and I know my team will be ready.
“On this type of pitch (synthetic pitch) and its new generation, we have had some experience on it. But this one we are going to play on tomorrow is badly maintained, and the bounce of the ball is different. It’s going to be fighting football tomorrow.”
Broos prefers to keep his cards close to his chest ahead of the match, apart from the injuries sustained by some of his players in the team.
“We need 11 warriors on that pitch and we are not thinking about good, nice football – we are thinking about fighting football. Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba and Evidence Makgopa have injuries and whether they will be ready on game-day remains the main test ahead of the match.”
The Bafana Bafana coach believes he has found his team, and they are playing good football. Khuliso Mudau, who scored in the 2-1 win against Benin in the opening FIFA World Cup qualifier in Durban on Saturday, is full of confidence ahead of the meeting with Rwanda.
“I believe that we can win tomorrow. The confidence that I needed was instilled in me by the coach and I hope I’m able to give my best once again when I take to the pitch. I’m always here to make a difference and to assist my team where I can,” Mudau said.
The game will be played at the 20 000-seater Huye Stadium, and kick off is at 3pm (both SA time and Rwanda time).