Well-travelled German coach Ernst Middendorp has warned the South African Football Association (SAFA) against retaining Hugo Broos in another role within the Bafana Bafana technical setup.
Broos recently confirmed that he will step down as Bafana head coach but admitted he would be open to remaining at SAFA in a different capacity. Reacting to those comments, Middendorp said such an arrangement would not be in the best interests of the national team.
“With all due respect to Hugo Broos and everything he has achieved with Bafana Bafana, this is a scenario that should not happen,” Middendorp wrote on LinkedIn.
He argued that any new head coach and technical team should be given complete authority and independence from the moment they take charge. “If a new head coach and technical team are appointed, they must be given full authority, independence, and responsibility from day one,” he said.
According to Middendorp, keeping Broos close to the senior national team would create the perception that the new coaching staff are constantly being monitored. “Every decision, every selection, and every result would be viewed through the lens of Hugo Broos’ continued presence,” he added.
Middendorp believes the best solution is for Broos to either remain as head coach with full responsibility or leave the setup entirely. “A successful transition requires clarity. The new technical leadership must be allowed to establish its own identity, culture, and decision-making processes without constant comparisons or the influence of its predecessor,” he explained.
He concluded by saying, “Great leaders also know when to let the next generation lead.”
Ironically, Middendorp himself served in a similar advisory role at Durban City last season while Gavin Hunt and later Sinethemba Badela were in charge of the team.