Bafana Bafana's third-place finish at the AFCON was seen as an indication that the standard of the PSL is high but head coach Hugo Broos differs.
Bafana were not rated before the Africa Cup of Nations started, as the squad was mostly dominated by local players, compared to other African countries, who had the majority of players in their squads playing their trade overseas, particularly in Europe.
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In South Africa's regular line-ups at the continental showpiece, only Sphephelo Sithole is based in Europe, for second division side in Portugal, Tondela while Mihlali Mayambela, based in Cyprus, was limited to substitute appearances late in the tournament, before making his first start in the third/fourth play-off match against Democratic Republic of Congo.
The core of the Bafana squad was from Mamelodi Sundowns, with Percy Tau the best recognized on international level, playing for Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
However, despite the success of the locally-based players, Broos says the standard of the PSL still has to improve and that he is even considering changing the identity of the national team to meet international standards.
"Again and I will repeat it. As much as you want the PSL level has to increase, I'm very sorry, not physically or whatever but tactical discipline, organization," Broos said in an interview on SuperSport's Soccer Africa.
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"I see sometimes when I go to PSL games, then I wonder how are they playing now? There is no tactical discipline, players are running everywhere, you can't do that in international level.
"For me, my opinion was that we don't have to play anymore like South Africans, if you want to achieve something on international level… Many people came to me from different countries after the games (at AFCON), they said, 'You don't play like South Africa used to play'. South African football is combination and technical things but international football is so much more. Don't talk about (winning) AFCON and winning World Cup. I'm very sorry but I think, not in 2026, 2030 that an African team can win the World Cup," he added.
