South Africa Coach Claims He Doesn't Know Korean Players Because 'Names Are Too Difficult'

The head coach of the South African national football team, which is set to face South Korea in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, has sparked controversy by claiming he does not know the Korean players, leading to speculation that he may be disrespecting the team.

The South Korean national team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is scheduled to play its third Group A match of the World Cup against South Africa at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on June 25.

South Africa, ranked 60th in the FIFA rankings, is considered the weakest team in Group A compared to Mexico (15th), South Korea (25th), and the Czech Republic (41st).

However, the South African head coach recently stated in an interview that he does not know the Korean players well, citing the reason that "the names are too difficult."

South Africa's head coach, Hugo Broos, reportedly said in the interview, "Honestly, I knew nothing about Korea at the time of the group draw. The only thing I knew about Korea was a Korean player I coached during my time at Anderlecht."

The player Hugo Broos referred to is Seol Ki-hyeon, who participated in the 2002 World Cup.

Hugo Broos continued, "I have researched the Korean team and its players over the past few months," but added, "I don't know the Korean players well because their names are too difficult."

Although Hugo Broos, born in 1952, is relatively elderly, some are criticizing his remarks as a provocation against the Korean team, arguing it is incomprehensible that he would not know Son Heung-min, who won the Premier League Golden Boot, or Lee Kang-in, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, a club that has won the UEFA Champions League for two consecutive years.

Meanwhile, Hugo Broos did acknowledge the team's ability, stating, "I know how the Korean team plays," and added, "They are a strong team with good physicality."

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Lee Hyun-ji | Design by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.