Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, has shared his views on the growing number of high-quality players Mamelodi Sundowns has brought in over the years.
Sundowns has dominated South African football for over a decade, winning seven consecutive league titles. A big part of their success can be attributed to their strategy of signing top players from across the continent.
Broos, however, expressed confusion over some of Sundowns’ recent moves, particularly in January when they loaned out Thembinkosi Lorch, Rushine de Reuck, and Lebohang Maboe, while also selling Lesiba Nku. In contrast, Sundowns brought in new signings like defenders Lucas Suarez and Keanu Cupido, as well as midfielder Jayden Adams from Stellenbosch.
While Broos acknowledged Sundowns’ financial power, he questioned the reasoning behind signing Adams, given that the team already has quality players. “I have to be careful with what I say, but I understand that Sundowns want the best players, and I get that they buy them because they have the resources,” Broos said. “They have plenty of money, but in the end, what are they going to do with all those players?”
Broos highlighted that Sundowns already has a large squad, with reports suggesting they have 38 players. While Sundowns competes in multiple competitions, including the Champions League, the league, and the Nedbank Cup, Broos wondered how they would manage all these players. “I see Adams now; we’ll see. He played every game at Stellenbosch, but at Sundowns, they have more than 20 players, and if I’m right, they have 38 players or something,” he added.
The coach made it clear that he wasn’t criticizing Sundowns but was simply questioning how they plan to manage such a large squad. “I’m just looking at it realistically: What are they going to do with all those players? And they are internationals, not like Tashreeq Matthews, who doesn’t play every game but isn’t with the national team. At Sundowns, they have national team players who don’t play, and for me, that’s not ideal because at some point, those players need to be replaced—not because they’re not good enough, but because they’re not playing.”
Despite his concerns, Broos acknowledged that Sundowns players have played an important role in Bafana Bafana’s success over the past two years, with standout performances from players like Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Khuliso Mudau.
