Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos couldn't hide his elation after the team qualified for the Fifa World Cup knockouts. He becomes the oldest manager to take his team to the knock out rounds.
Image: AFP
The exciting prospect of Bafana Bafana reaching even greater heights at the World Cup has completely captured the imagination of South Africans.
Now, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has added a massive extra incentive to their historic journey across the Atlantic, promising a staggering performance bonus of “R5 million a match” for the playing squad.
South Africa made history midweek by edging past South Korea 1-0 to secure their spot in the round of 32 for the first time. Broos' troops now face another daunting task as they line up against tournament co-hosts Canada at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The self-proclaimed "minister of happiness" has spent countless hours over the last eight months embedded with the national team, offering unyielding political and financial backing to veteran head coach Hugo Broos. McKenzie has attended every single Bafana match during this global showpiece and had already pledged an initial R5 million reward following that milestone night in Monterrey.
However, he has since significantly upped the stakes as South Africa look to push deeper into the knockout stages.
"This is not even the end because we haven’t spoken to the sponsors as yet; this is coming from the department, from me, the minister of happiness," McKenzie told the squad in their dressing room. "I am committing to you guys; you have already won one, so that’s R5 million. If you win the next match against Canada, you will have R10 million, and if you beat Morocco or the Netherlands, you will receive R15 million."
He continued passionately: "But that is only from me. When I leave here, we’re going to see Coca-Cola. I know the businesses in South Africa that donate to rugby players. I’m calling them now — your Cartier watches, everything. I’m going to call them now."
While McKenzie manages the boardroom and financial diplomacy, Broos is successfully channelling similar enthusiasm on the training pitch. The Belgian tactician has successfully persuaded a hungry, young squad that further progress is no longer merely a dream.
The South African squad is beaming with confidence, even in the forced absence of the suspended Themba Zwane, who will serve the final match of his three-game ban against the Canadians. Following Sphephelo Sithole’s memorable performance last time out, the timely return of midfield general Teboho Mokoena is expected to drastically elevate both the morale and technical quality of the engine room.
The class of 2026 will forever be remembered for shattering historic boundaries, finally breaking the glass ceiling that eluded the squads of 1998, 2002, and 2010.
Broos himself has become a highly inspirational figure back home, despite occasional cultural clashes with local football purists. At 74 years old, the veteran Belgian has become the oldest manager to ever guide a nation into the World Cup knockout stages.
The chance to extend that record by another 90 minutes awaits in Inglewood, California. Los Angeles, home to Hollywood’s most iconic entertainment arenas, seems a fittingly theatrical stage for the next chapter of South Africa’s footballing fairytale. Having toured Mexico and the United States, Bafana Bafana now face a fellow host nation, determined to take this underdog saga to unprecedented heights.