Hugo Broos leaves door open to future role in South African football

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has hinted that his journey with South African football may not necessarily end after the World Cup, revealing he would be open to a reduced role that allows him to spend more time with his family in Belgium.

Broos has repeatedly suggested this tournament would likely be his last in management, admitting he has missed watching his grandchildren grow up during his five years in charge of South Africa.

Speaking after Sunday's pre-match press conference ahead of Bafana's historic Round of 32 clash against Canada, however, the 74-year-old acknowledged that retirement may not be as straightforward as he once thought.

"Months ago I said, 'Yeah, this has to be finished now. I'm 74 and it has been enough'," Broos said. "But the closer the end comes, the more you start thinking about it. So we will see.

"For the moment, I still stay with my decision. But at the other side I always said that it's not to go home and sit on my couch and drink coffee. I have too much energy, still too much energy.

"So maybe, maybe we can find something in South Africa that I have to be less there, that I can be more with my family and then we will see if it's possible." 

Broos admitted being away from his family remains one of the biggest reasons behind his decision to step away from full-time coaching, but said their support throughout the World Cup has given him renewed motivation.

"They regularly send me WhatsApp clips of the moments they are looking at the game, celebrating like after South Korea," he said.

"It makes me enormously happy and it gives me also energy to go on."

The Belgian also revealed his wife had joked after South Africa's victory over South Korea that he had permission to extend his stay at the tournament.

"I phoned my wife and she said, 'Okay, you can stay another week, there is no problem,'" Broos laughed.

Whether that stay eventually extends beyond the World Cup remains to be seen, but Broos has now acknowledged that while his time as Bafana coach may be drawing to a close, his involvement in South African football may not be over just yet.