Ex-Orlando Pirates star explains how Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos provoked Zimbabweans and it backfired because it was 'personal'

Former Orlando Pirates star Marshall Munetsi has explained why Zimbabwe players did everything possible to frustrate Bafana Bafana in a World Cup qualifier.

The Warriors faced Bafana in a very crucial game that the latter needed to win, but that did not happen. What motivated Zimbabwe has now been revealed: Hugo Broos' comments before the game.  

“Why should people start doubting after what we have achieved so far?" the Belgian stated.

"You start doubting now because of a tricky situation, yet we’re facing Zimbabwe and Rwanda, not Nigeria, Cameroon, or Egypt. These are good teams, yes, but not top teams. So why should we doubt?” 

Munetsi has revealed that they did not take Broos' comments lightly, as what he said touched them, and they turned it into a source of motivation.  

“For him to say he’s not taking us seriously. It touched us as players. We wanted to prove him wrong,” Munetsi told Metro FM Sports Night Amplified.

“You know, the comments that he [Hugo Broos] made about us, I think it also really touched us as players. When he said he doesn’t really feel like Zimbabwe is a big team or that they are a threat. Obviously, we didn’t really perform as well as we would have wanted to in the qualifiers for the World Cup," he added.

Bafana and the Warriors will also meet in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco, as they are in the same group, and according to the Wolverhampton Wanderers star, South Africa could face more frustrations.   

“But for him also to make such comments. As soon as he said that, guys were calling each other and talking and saying that obviously they are a direct opponent for us in the World Cup qualifiers, but also especially at AFCON," he continued.

“So, personally, for us, it was a personal game in terms of what the coach [Broos] said. And secondly, I think it was a derby that a lot of the Zimbabweans would forgive us for losing against Lesotho," the Zimbabwean stated.

“But also, they would never forgive us for losing against South Africa. So, that was the different mindset that was there, and knowing that in a few, probably two months or so, we’ll be playing against them in the AFCON finals."

“So, I think this was something that we really wanted to make sure we do better in that aspect. I think it's just because he's not taking us seriously, because if you check our team, we do really have a good team.

When South Africa played Zimbabwe, they needed a win that would have kept their qualification alive. However, the game ended in a goalless draw, frustrating a Bafana side already under immense pressure after their points were deducted by FIFA.    

However, Bafana beat Rwanda, and with Benin losing to Nigeria in the final Group C game, they were assured of a World Cup ticket.