Still, South Africa’s (SA) limited budget continues to restrict preparations.
Broos confirmed that securing the two friendly matches against Panama did not come cheap, and he now hopes the financially constrained SA Football Association (SAFA) can still arrange additional fixtures for May.
Broos revealed that global football powerhouses Brazil and Argentina had both been willing to travel to SA for friendly matches. However, each requested match fees of five million dollars, a figure far beyond SAFA’s means. As a result, SA has been forced to seek more affordable opponents despite the need for stronger competition ahead of the World Cup in the Americas in June.
With two of Bafana Bafana’s Group A opponents already confirmed, Broos said the priority is to secure warm‑up games against teams that play a similar style of football. He emphasised that ideally, SA should play up to three friendly matches that replicate the tactical and physical profiles of their World Cup rivals.
“We need to face teams that are close in playing style to our opponents at the World Cup,” Broos said. “The ideal scenario is three friendlies, but it depends on whether SAFA can afford it. The games against Panama already cost a great deal.”
The coach said proper preparation is essential if Bafana are to compete effectively on the global stage, but financial constraints remain a major hurdle. SAFA has struggled with budget pressures for several years, affecting not only match arrangements but also broader high‑performance planning.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
