Danny Jordaan: SAFA President Opens Up on Fights With Bafana Head Coach Hugo Broos

• Danny Jordaan has praised Hugo Broos despite the clashes they had within the FA
• The Belgian manager guided South Africa to a third-place finish in the AFCON 2023
• The SAFA President refrained from divulging specifics regarding players' bonuses

South African Football Association (SAFA) president, Danny Jordaan, has commended the indomitable spirit of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, shedding light on their occasional clashes within the FA.

Addressing reporters at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, February 13, Jordaan expressed gratitude for Broos' unwavering commitment following the national team's return from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they secured third place.

The seasoned Belgian coach, who assumed the helm at Bafana in 2021, has earned acclaim for his outspoken nature, a trait lauded by the SAFA boss for its resilience.

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“I want again to thank the coach. We started a long journey, we had many fights, and he was not going to run away from a fight, he ran towards a fight. And you know that he has strong views and is not afraid to express it" he said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

Jordaan refrained from divulging specifics regarding the bonuses earmarked for the players, despite their commendable performance at the AFCON tournament in Abidjan.

Upon their return, the team received a warm reception at OR Tambo International Airport, celebrating their first AFCON bronze since 2000, when Ghana and Nigeria co-hosted the tournament.

Controversy ensued before the tournament when Jordaan initially hinted at an R7 million reward for winning, only to clarify the misunderstanding regarding currency conversions later.

"If they win, they get R7-million. If they lose, they get nothing. We want the team to focus and perform. We have, over a period of time, settled this team, and we don't want to waste time discussing unnecessary stuff,” he said, as quoted by News24.

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Despite persistent inquiries, he remained evasive regarding the exact bonus structure, citing deliberations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the need for alignment with player expectations.

Previously, reports surfaced in January suggesting that a memorandum of agreement was signed between the association's management and the players, outlining the terms and conditions.

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Broos' side started the tournament badly as they lost to Mali 2-0 in their first group game, but a 4-0 win over Namibia and a goalless draw against Tunisia sealed their place in the Round of 16.

The team caused one of the major upsets in the competition as they knocked Morocco out in the second round before defeating Cape Verde in the quarter-finals on penalties.