Cameroon coach Hugo Broos has applied for the vacant South African coaching job just days after his 2017 Africa Cup of Nations victory as coach of Cameroon.
The Belgian tactician who masterminded a surprise triumph for the Indomitable Lions earlier this month has also expressed interest in moving to South Africa in favor of the current African Champions.
His agent Gino Laureyssen of Ligi Star Management confirmed that Broos’ resume had been submitted to the South African Football Federation adding that,
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“He’s very interested in working with a young group and I think the South African national team hasn’t done well in recent years, and if you see how he did with Cameroon, with not only stars but players who want to fight and work hard, I think that [his interest] is a good sign.[/perfectpullquote]
“Look, if he has won the Africa Cup of Nations and is a hero in that country, I think he’s very smart [to know] that it can only go backward [from here on out].
“Nothing is decided yet but if he says he wants a new challenge it means a lot and to be honest, personally, the living conditions in South Africa are maybe a little better than in Cameroon,” he said.
Other big names that make a pool of around 60 applicants include, two high profile Italians, Roberto Mancini and Giovanni Trapattoni as well as Germans, Lothas Matthaus and Bernd Schuster.
South African FA revealed the 60 names that applied on Thursday, 16th and also revealed that former internationals, Lucas Radebe and Benni McCarthy, would form part of the committee to find the new national coach.
In an official statement, SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan explained more on the selection process.
“The committee … will draw up a shortlist, deliberate (on) it before naming the suitable candidate in (the) coming days,” he said.
“We want to have the process expedited as Bafana Bafana have a bumper 2017 season in which they need to compete and qualify on three fronts.
“We need the coach to be in place when we play two friendly matches in March.
South Africa’s coaching job became vacant in December when Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba was sacked for “gross misconduct.”
To qualify for the 2018 World Cup, 2019 Nations Cup, and next year’s African Nations Championship, the new coach will have to be instated as soon as possible.
Featured photo: Hugo Broos led Cameroon to its Fifth AFCON title. (GETTY IMAGES)
