South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has expressed concern over his team’s disciplinary record after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was ruled out of their decisive World Cup Group A clash against South Korea through suspension.
Mokoena picked up his second yellow card of the tournament in the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic on Thursday, a match in which he later scored a late penalty in the 83rd minute to secure a vital point for Bafana Bafana.
The suspension comes at a crucial moment for South Africa, who are still fighting for qualification from Group A but now face one of their toughest tests without one of their key midfield figures.
Broos admitted frustration at the growing number of bookings his squad has accumulated during the tournament, suggesting it could cost them at a critical stage.
“It’s a shame we picked up two more yellow cards, I think, and as the tournament progresses, if we continue like this, we’ll have to pay the price.
“And these aren’t the weakest players on our team, they’re among the best. It’s a problem we’ll have to solve, it’s there and we’ll try to fix it,” said Broos.
South Africa’s disciplinary record has become a talking point at the competition, with the team reported to have collected four yellow cards and two red cards so far, the highest among all participating nations.
The absence of Mokoena is a significant setback, with Broos acknowledging both the importance of the player and the emotional side of his latest booking.
“I think Teboho has always been a good player and still is, but you know, in a game like that, it is sometimes very difficult to control your emotions and it was a stupid yellow card, if I can put it that way,” said the veteran coach.
Despite his frustration, Broos was keen not to overly criticise his midfielder, instead highlighting the learning process his squad is going through at the highest level of international football.
“But these kinds of things shouldn’t happen, but it’s also something we need to learn at this level. This is a team that lacks experience, except on the African continent, but outside of that, we have no experience.”
South Africa remain bottom of Group A with one point, but qualification for the knockout stage is still mathematically possible. A victory against South Korea on Thursday, 25 June, could see them advance to the last 16 for the first time in their history, depending on other results in the group.
Broos believes exposure at this level will ultimately benefit his team, even if the immediate consequences are costly.
“We are learning a lot in these games we are playing at the moment, and again, it would be very beneficial for the team if we reach the second round, then this kind of thing will disappear, I am convinced, like this moment on the sidelines (against the Czech Republic).”
He also struck a balanced tone when reflecting on Mokoena’s temperament, suggesting there are positives alongside the disciplinary concerns.
“You have to stay focused from the first second of the match, know what’s going to happen and take a stand.
“Showing your emotions and getting a yellow card, but I won’t hold it against anyone, there’s also something positive in that because it proves that Teboho’s mentality is excellent, and I like that more than the yellow card he received.”
