Pitso Mosimane says South African football must do more to help white youngsters progress from school football into the professional game and ultimately represent Bafana Bafana.
The incoming Bafana Bafana head coach believes football should be promoted more strongly at leading schools where rugby has traditionally been the dominant sport, including Paul Roos Gymnasium and Grey College.
Mosimane, 62, has also urged greater cooperation between football authorities, schools and the government to create sustainable development programmes and give more children the chance to pursue the sport.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach, who runs the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS) development programme, said football needed to be given a stronger presence in South Africa’s suburbs and towns.
“If you drive around the suburbs and towns, you’ll see more rugby posts. I respect rugby, and I even have my Springboks jersey because they are my national team.
“We have to check with the Bokke, where they started and which schools the players attend. What is the programme?” he told eNCA.
Mosimane said he had already held discussions with the Department of Basic Education about increasing football participation at some of South Africa’s top and private schools.
He wants the department to work with football organisations and schools to establish programmes that can support young players over the long term.
“The Minister of Basic Education came to my launch and he said, ‘Coach, this is needed.’ I think we need to move it another step and say, ‘Minister, can you also accompany me to speak to Paul Roos and all those schools so we can put the programmes in place and help the children to play football?’”
The coach said the country’s football development system should be more inclusive, arguing that white players who show promise at youth level should not be lost before they reach the professional game.
Mosimane believes many white boys play football in junior structures but eventually leave the sport instead of being supported towards professional careers.
“White boys are playing in the youth structures but fall away. We need to showcase them at Bafana.
“In football, by the way, I can tell you 100 percent, we don’t care what colour you are, where you are from, who’s your father. If you can play football, you will play,” Mosimane added.
His comments come as South African football continues to seek ways to expand its talent pool and attract young players from all backgrounds.
Rugby remains deeply established in many schools, particularly those where the sport has historically been central to school life. Mosimane believes football can learn from the structures that have helped produce Springboks players, including the schools and programmes through which they developed.
His own PMSS initiative is intended to contribute to the development of young footballers, while he has called for stronger links between grassroots programmes and the national team.
Mosimane is set to take charge of Bafana Bafana as South Africa considers how to build a broader pathway from youth football to the senior national side.
