Hugo Broos has offered support to Lyle Foster following his missed penalty against Nicaragua on Friday night. The Bafana Bafana head coach emphasized that even the best players in the world fail to convert from the spot, referencing Foster’s shot that struck the woodwork at Orlando Stadium.
As the best chance for Bafana against the lower-ranked Central American side, Foster’s miss raises concerns about his ability to lead South Africa’s attack in their upcoming World Cup opening match against Mexico next Thursday.
Drawing from his own experiences, Broos recounted a missed penalty from his playing days. “Sometimes the best players in the world miss penalties. This is not trainable. I had never taken a penalty when I was a player in the 1986 FIFA World Cup against Spain. Six weeks later, I was asked to take one during a club derby. Up to this day, they never found the ball,” he said.
Broos highlighted the psychological aspect of taking penalties, stating, “When I was in Mexico, I had nothing to lose, but for the club, I was stressed.”