A minority party in South African government has called for the national team’s head coach to be investigated by the country’s Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after alleged “racially suggestive and sexist” comments to his own player and the player’s agent.
Hugo Broos, 73, made these remarks about South Africa international Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent, Basia Michaels, in a news conference after the defender arrived late to camp for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday. The United Democratic Movement deputy president Nqabayomzi Kwankwa confirmed on a South African radio show, Meeting Point, that they had lodged a formal complaint to the SAHRC.
“I’m not pleased at what he did,” Broos said about the 20-year-old defender to journalists, with regards to a missed flight. “I will have a chat with him after training, and I can assure you he is a Black guy, but he will come out of my room as a white guy, because that I can’t accept.
“I am very angry, very angry at his attitude.”
The Belgian then went on to speak about the “little woman who is his agent, who thinks she knows football”, before suggesting what she should do “if she was a little bit clever”.
“She’s doing what many agents are doing,” Broos said. “(Thinking) ‘how much can I get?’”
The UDM condemned his “racially suggestive and sexist utterances” in a statement.
“These remarks, if confirmed, constitute racially suggestive and sexist utterances that demean the dignity of the individuals concerned and undermine the constitutional values that govern all public institutions, including national sports structures,” it read, per ENCA.
Kwankwa said on the Meeting Point: “You can’t have a situation where a national team coach, who is supposed to be a unifying figure makes statements which we claim and we believe to be extremely racist.”
The deputy president of the UDM also condemned his comments on Mbokazi’s agent, who he said was “belittled”, “demeaned” and “disrespected” due to her being a woman.
The Athletic has approached the South Africa Football Association and SAHRC for comment.
Mbokazi played the full match as Orlando Pirates won the League Cup on December 6, after playing 11 of their 12 league matches which has placed the South African side top of the table. He has since moved to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
