South Africa's Bafana Bafana have experienced significant improvement since Hugo Broos took the reins as manager of the team in May 2021.

The Belgian coach, who recently guided the team to a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has overseen a flurry of players during his tenure.

Under Broos' guidance, the team has made significant strides in improving after years of mediocrity and missing out on major tournaments.

While some players have displayed exceptional skill and breathtaking abilities, others have failed to meet expectations.

Among the many players Broos has worked with, one standout talent is Percy Tau. The 29-year-old is widely regarded as one of Africa's finest footballers in recent years and is arguably South Africa's best footballing export.

However, Broos recently disclosed that a comment he made about Tau and Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, nearly resulted in a dangerous situation, where he was almost shot.

Broos on how he almost got shot

In an interview on the Frank & Franky Podcast, as reported by Belgian media outlet, m.nieuwsblad.be, the South African national coach expressed his frustration with the intense criticism directed at him, recounting a startling incident where he nearly faced violence over a statement he made about Tau and Osimhen.

Broos shared the story, saying, "They almost shot me because I said Percy Tau isn't a big player. When I think of a great player, I think of [Sadio] Mane from Senegal or Osimhen from Nigeria. The press then made Percy Tau out to be a star player. Surprisingly, Tau was criticized later for not playing well.

The septuagenarian’s comments highlighting the exceptional talent of Napoli's Osimhen did not sit well with some fans and pundits, who believe Tau's achievements deserve more recognition.

Despite the backlash, Broos maintains his stance that players like Osimhen currently perform at a higher level than Tau.

Broos will lead his South African team as they renew their rivalry with Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series on June 7.