Pitso Mosimane has moved to cool mounting speculation over a possible return as Bafana Bafana head coach, while publicly backing Hugo Broos for the progress the Belgian has overseen with South Africa’s national team.
The former Al Ahly boss has been widely tipped as a leading contender to take charge again if the South African Football Association (SAFA) opts not to renew Broos’ contract, which is due to expire at the end of the month.
Broos’ position remains unresolved despite guiding Bafana Bafana into the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup in June, a run that has prompted debate over whether SAFA should stick with the 72-year-old or look to usher in a new era.
Speaking about the possibility of a second spell in the national-team dugout, Mosimane acknowledged he is in the frame but insisted he has no clarity on whether an offer will materialise.
“Well, the Bafana job… I don’t know when coach Hugo Broos’ contract ends, but I know that the federation has spoken to a lot of us,” Mosimane said, confirming that discussions have taken place at a broad level rather than directly signalling his appointment.
Praise for Broos and belief in Bafana’s growth
Mosimane was keen to emphasise that, in his view, Bafana Bafana are on an upward curve under Broos, even if he feels the team still has another level to reach.
He highlighted the need to keep pushing standards higher, referring to his own experience at Mamelodi Sundowns as an example of how a successful platform can be built upon by those who follow.
“There’s room for improvement. I left Sundowns with a Champions League title. Did they win a second one? They did, right? So every stage and every level can be reached and improved. It’s not for the first time we’ve qualified for the World Cup,” he said.
“We have raised the bar, yes, but we have to leave the jersey in a better place,” he added, stressing the responsibility on each generation of coaches and players to advance the national side.
Mosimane’s previous spell with Bafana
Mosimane, now 62, previously served as Bafana Bafana head coach from 2010 to 2012, a tenure that ended abruptly after South Africa failed to defeat Ethiopia in a key qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
That setback brought his first stint in charge of the national team to a close, but his coaching career has flourished since he left the post.
Over the past 16 years, Mosimane has established himself as one of the continent’s most decorated managers, accumulating multiple CAF Champions League titles and seven league championships across his club roles, including a trophy-laden period at Al Ahly.
Future focus as SAFA weighs options
With Broos’ contract about to lapse and no official announcement yet from SAFA, the debate over who should lead Bafana Bafana into their next cycle is intensifying.
A significant section of South African supporters view Mosimane affectionately known as “Jingles” as the natural choice should a change be made, citing both his domestic pedigree and his success in African competition.
For now, though, Mosimane’s own stance remains cautious. While confirming that the federation has held discussions with several candidates, he has stopped short of suggesting that a return is imminent, instead directing attention towards the strides made by Broos and the need to build on the current platform.
The final decision rests with SAFA, who must determine in the coming days whether to extend Broos’ contract after the World Cup knockout-stage achievement or usher in a new chapter potentially under the man who last led Bafana Bafana more than a decade ago.
