Pitso Mosimane has explained why Helman Mkhalele was not retained in his Bafana Bafana technical team after returning as South Africa coach for the first time in 14 years.
Mkhalele spent five years as an assistant to Hugo Broos, but no longer has a role with the national side following Mosimane’s appointment. Broos has since retired from coaching, while Mkhalele’s next move remains uncertain.
Mosimane’s current backroom staff includes analyst Musi Matlaba and conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga. The coach said he had chosen staff members who already understood his methods because his approach to football differed from that of other coaches.
“You know, everyone, and every coach has his own technical team, right? And I always love to refer to practical questions,” Mosimane told the media.
“And I’ll tell you about Carlo Ancelotti. You know who he takes with him? He takes his son [Davide Ancelotti], and they have won a lot of trophies. If I had my son next to me here instead of… I think you would be saying some other things.”
Mosimane used Ancelotti’s relationship with his son and assistant, Davide, to argue that the focus should be on the work achieved by a coaching team rather than outside perceptions of its make-up.
“He’s got his son, and they have won trophies, right? And the world is not looking at Ancelotti and his son, right? It’s looking at the work to be done. So, for us, it’s the work done, right? And I have people who have done the FIFA [Club] World Cup with me here. Four of them.
“And it’s the people who understand the way I work, the way we work. We work differently. From South Africa, in the continent, even over the continent beyond the borders of the continent. So, I have the people that I think can support me. And, yeah, I think I’m giving you the right answer,” concluded Mosimane.
Mosimane’s return marks his first spell in charge of Bafana Bafana since his previous tenure ended, with the coach now tasked with shaping a new technical structure around the national team.
Mkhalele’s five-year association with Bafana Bafana began during Broos’ time in charge, but his involvement has ended with the change of coach. At present, there has been no indication of what his next role will be.
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