Broos grumbles about US stadiums, hydration breaks at World Cup

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos criticised the Atlanta Stadium, arguing that its closed-roof, NFL-style design reduces the traditional football atmosphere.

Broos also took issue with the use of hydration breaks, saying they broke the game’s rhythm and were unnecessary interruptions.

Broos praised Bafana’s resilience in the 1-1 draw with Czechia, saying the result kept their World Cup hopes alive.

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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos could take satisfaction from his team’s fighting spirit against the Czechia, but the Belgian veteran was less impressed by the venue that staged the crucial World Cup encounter in Atlanta.

Bafana kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive after battling to a 1-1 draw beneath the closed roof of the gleaming Atlanta Stadium, home to NFL franchise the Atlanta Falcons and MLS outfit Atlanta United.

The Czechs struck early through Michal Sadilek, whose sixth-minute effort handed the Europeans control of the contest and threatened to leave South Africa staring at another painful defeat.

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Yet Broos’ men refused to fade.

They continued to probe and press for an opening and were rewarded seven minutes from time when Teboho Mokoena calmly dispatched a penalty after Pavel Sulc was penalised for handling the ball inside the area.

While the point breathed fresh life into South Africa’s Group A campaign, Broos reserved some of his strongest comments for the stadium itself.

Having opened their World Cup journey with a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca, the Belgian drew a sharp contrast between the two venues.

“If I can be very honest, this is not a football stadium. It’s a nice stadium, fantastic stadium, everything you want. But only the grass is football. All the rest is not,” Broos, 74, told his post-match press conference.

“It’s a covered stadium. I like to play in an open stadium. I don’t feel really the atmosphere in such a stadium. When you compare it with Azteca, for example, that is a football stadium!

“These stadiums are fantastic stadiums for the crowd. I think they see everything in that stadium. There are no places that are covered or whatever. But, again, I rather like a real football stadium.”

Broos’ frustrations were not limited to the surroundings. He also questioned the necessity of the cooling breaks that interrupted the match despite the climate-controlled conditions inside the arena.

“I think it’s very, very useful when it’s hot,” he added. “But in other cases, the rhythm of the game is lost.

“When at that moment you are the best team and you dominate, suddenly your domination is blocked for five minutes or I don’t know how long... in that stadium, we don’t need to drink after 20 minutes.”

The draw leaves South Africa’s destiny firmly in their own hands heading into a decisive final Group A clash against South Korea.

The Taegeuk Warriors arrive on the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico, turning Thursday’s fixture into a high-stakes encounter for both sides.

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For Bafana, it is still a search for history. In only their fourth World Cup appearance, they have never progressed beyond the group stage.

A win in their final outing would significantly strengthen their chances of reaching the Round of 32, either through a top-two finish or as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

It would also deliver a rare away victory on football’s biggest stage for the South Africans.

Broos, however, does take heart from his team’s resilience and the way they responded when under pressure against the Czechs.

“If we can make another performance like today, I think we have a chance to go in the second round,” added Broos.

“I’m very proud of my team, and this is the real Bafana Bafana.”

Bafana’s match against South Korea takes place in Mexico at Estadio Monterrey on Thursday, 25 June.

Kick-off is at 03:00 (SA time).

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