Following the performances of Mamelodi Sundowns players at AFCON, Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo believes he and others are vindicated in their early criticism of head coach Hugo Broos.
In May 2022, the 1996 AFCON winner was not shy to voice his displeasure about the omission of several Mamelodi Sundowns players, like former star, Andile Jali and Themba Zwane from the national team.
READ | Doc's plea to SAFA
Following South Africa's third place finish at the AFCON 2023, in large part due to 11 players selected from Sundowns as part of the final 23-man squad that featured in Ivory Coast.
Khumalo, speaking on the sidelines of the 10bet Viewer Experience, believes he has been vindicated.
"Football is a game of opinions, any individual has his own opinions. How we spoke about Hugo [Broos] when he came to our shores, was our opinion. We had a right to say those things," Khumalo said on the sidelines of the event.
"Only now he [Broos] says 'only a fool doesn’t change his mind', because we knew what we were talking about. At the end of the day, I’m glad that he came to the party and the very same players that he undermined are the ones that he’s been praising throughout.
"I will give him credit because, at the end of the day, it’s all about a wiser man redeeming himself in terms of understanding what it takes to be a South Africa coach. What kind of players do you need, and what is it that needs to be done, there I can give him 100% out of 100%.
"I remember at some stage I said how do you select the national team without the best players from Sundowns because Sundowns was the only team at that moment, we could say was on song in terms of competing in Africa.
"And the Jali’s were declared, the Zwane’s, the list is endless but the Zwane that he didn’t like is the one that helped us beat Namibia 4-0."
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Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana landed at OR International Airport to a heroes welcome on Wednesday morning. Broos and his men will return to action when they take on Andorra in an international friendly in March.
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