Bafana Coach Hugo Broos: "Andile Jali and Themba Zwane Are Not My Type of Players"

• Hugo Broos will not back down on refusing to select players who are being clamoured for by media and fans for the Bafana Bafana squad
• This came after the surprise exclusion of Mamelodi Sundowns' in-form midfield duo Andile Jali and Themba Zwane
• South Africa will take on Guinea and France at the end of the month in international friendlies hosted in Belgium and in Lille

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos made an explosive comment which stirred debate among local football fans.

Speaking in an interview with SAFM last night after trimming South Africa's squad for upcoming fixtures against Guinea and France, the Belgian made it clear that in-form Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali is not in his plans.

According to TimesLIVE, Broos said that he was now focusing on giving youth the chance to shine, which explained why the likes of Jali and his similarly red-hot Brazilians teammate Themba Zwane were left out.

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SABC journalist Thabiso Mosia, who conducted the interview with Broos, tweeted Broos words:

"This is my choice not to pick Andile Jali. The level in international football is higher, it's not the same as here in the league. Modern football demands a lot, recovering the ball, power in the middle. He's not my type of player."

"The same goes for Themba Zwane... He is also an older player... The next Afcon is 2023, he will be 33 next year when Afcon comes again... Also guys, I can't have 8 or 9 Sundowns players in the squad, what does that say?"

Broos quotes were the subject of much debate among Bafana supporters.

@MgeeDaAlien said:

"Why is the media always asking the exclusion of certain players in the national team? We can't all have our preferred players in the national team at once, lets just accept whoever the coach has selected and support the team."

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@_SiyaNdlovu said:

"Y'all need to make peace with whoever the national team coach selects. Yall want him to select your favorites players and if they don't perform yall will crucify him? Let the coach do what he thinks is right then judge him by the results."

Hugo Broos names Bafana squad ahead of friendlies, Brandon Petersen and Victor Letsoalo among those left out

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has officially named his 23-man squad that will take on Guinea and France in two upcoming friendly matches, as reported by Sports Brief.

Bafana will take on Guinea on 25 March in Belgium, before taking on world champions France, in Lilleon on 29 March.

Broos originally named a provisional squad for the friendlies, a squad that featured four overseas players and numerous debutants. Broos has since whittled that squad down to the final 23 that will compete in the friendlies.