Pitso Mosimane has welcomed the criticism that will accompany his return as South Africa head coach, insisting negative reactions will motivate rather than unsettle him.
The 62-year-old was formally unveiled by the South African Football Association (SAFA) at a media briefing at SAFA House in Nasrec on Tuesday as he begins his second permanent spell in charge of Bafana Bafana.
Mosimane was asked how he would deal with supporters who may not fully support his appointment or decisions during his return to the national team.
The highly decorated coach acknowledged that football naturally creates differing opinions and said he does not expect to be universally popular.
“I’ve seen [most] South Africans supporting the team…There will always be one or two who can say whatever you want to say, even amongst yourselves (media), right?
“This is a…. It’s football, right? It’s football. You can never be liked by everybody, right?”
Mosimane pointed to the scrutiny faced by some of the biggest names in football, including Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, to illustrate his belief that criticism is an unavoidable part of the game.
He also argued that criticism can be beneficial because it prevents coaches and players from becoming complacent.
“Criticism is important because it makes us not too comfortable and sitting on our laurels and in our comfort zone. For me, criticism fuels me a lot,” he said.
Mosimane returns to the Bafana Bafana job with little time to settle into his new role, with South Africa’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign providing an immediate test.
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to face Guinea and Eritrea in successive fixtures later this month, giving Mosimane his first opportunity to implement his ideas and assess the squad.
His return follows a highly successful coaching career that has included major spells with Mamelodi Sundowns and Egyptian giants Al Ahly. He has won three continental titles and is regarded as one of Africa’s most accomplished coaches.
With expectations high around his return, Mosimane will now be tasked with delivering results while navigating the scrutiny that comes with managing the national team.
Rather than allowing criticism to become a distraction, however, the veteran coach believes it can provide additional motivation as he begins his latest chapter with Bafana Bafana.
