The South African Football Association has backed Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos following accusations of racism and sexism in his criticism of defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Broos' remarks came after Mbokazi missed a team flight during Africa Cup of Nations preparations. The federation attributes misunderstandings to a language barrier.
Bafana Bafana are in the final stages of preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they are seen as strong contenders for their second title. However, momentum has been disrupted by controversy surrounding coach Hugo Broos' comments at a Pretoria press conference last week.
The 73-year-old Belgian coach expressed anger over 20-year-old defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi missing his flight from Durban to Johannesburg. Mbokazi had captained Orlando Pirates to a 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout Cup final in Polokwane. Broos had allowed selected Pirates players extra days off before the team's camp began at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on 8 December 2025. Instead of joining promptly, Mbokazi returned home to celebrate his transfer to Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, a move set for after Afcon.
Broos lambasted Mbokazi's attitude, saying: “I will have a chat with him. He is a black guy. He will get out of my room as a white guy. Because that I can’t accept. But I know why. Suddenly, Mbokazi is a star – he thinks he is a star. This is the attitude of a star: ‘I will decide when I come.’ I will explain it to him. I’m very angry about his attitude.” He also criticized the transfer, noting Chicago Fire is not a top American team, and blamed Mbokazi's agent, Basia Michaels, calling her a “little woman who’s his agent [Basia Michaels] and thinks she knows football.”
The remarks sparked accusations of racism and sexism, with the United Democratic Movement reporting Broos to the Human Rights Commission. Broos and Safa denied the claims in a statement, attributing misinterpretations to Broos' limited English proficiency. Broos clarified: “It is unfortunate that my strong rebuke of the player’s conduct and subsequent comments were misinterpreted as racism and sexism. I distance myself from any accusation of racism and sexism.” Safa emphasized Broos' support for Mbokazi since his selection months ago and noted the comments on the agent aimed to highlight prioritizing long-term development over short-term gains.
Former Bafana midfielder Benedict Vilakazi acknowledged Mbokazi's mistake but urged a more measured approach: “We cannot throw this boy under the bus for just a single mistake... Take him into a corner and sit down with him. Build him so that does not make the same mistake.” Mbokazi's rapid rise—from local clubs in Hluhluwe to Pirates' vice-captain in 2025—has been notable. As Afcon runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, the focus remains on unity for the tournament in Morocco.
