Although his exit from the national team coincided with the arrival of Hugo Broos, Itumeleng Khune has been full of praise for the work done by the Belgian coach with Bafana Bafana.
Read: Mokoena Suspension Saga Brings Unwanted Dejavu For Khune
Khune, who was on his way out of the national team when Broos took over in 2021, did not feature under Broos but remained part of the squad with Ronwen Williams holding onto the number one goalkeeper's jersey. Despite this, Khune has watched closely and acknowledged the positive strides made by the national team under Broos' leadership.
Since Broos' arrival, Bafana Bafana have shown considerable progress. The team is now on the brink of FIFA World Cup qualification, having finished third in the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They are steadily climbing the FIFA rankings and have incorporated fresh talent into the squad on a regular basis, signaling a new era for South African football.
Khune, 37, praised the work done by Broos, particularly highlighting the togetherness and unity within the team. He pointed to the respect and love that exists among the players, something that has not gone unnoticed by fans. Reflecting on the criticism Broos initially faced when he took over, Khune expressed how the coach has managed to turn things around and unite the nation.
"I like what coach Hugo is doing because there's that togetherness. There's love, there's respect amongst the players. And even us as a nation, we love it. We love what we are seeing," Khune told the Siya crew.
Read: Riveiro's Cryptic Message Raises Questions On Pirates Future
"In one of my interviews, I did say that coach Hugo was ridiculed, people were calling him a plumber, they were giving him names. But look where we are as a country because of him, he has united us. You know we haven't lost since 12 games, or more. But it's long that we haven't lost. That's all you need, consistency."
"Coach Hugo, he's been building. He has built, and now the building is up there. We are seeing the fruits of what he has built. We are seeing a building which is nice, perfect, and it just needs to be maintained. And that's what I like about coach Hugo. As much as he was being criticised, he stuck to his guns. He knew his plan, he knew what he was doing, and he has won our hearts. Because he has stuck to that. He never listens to what the public says and then he changes how his leadership skills are."
Now, with Bafana Bafana enjoying a period of stability and success, Khune concluded, "No one is calling him names anymore. We are all singing his praises and credit to him, his technical team, and the entire Bafana Bafana team."
