Pitso Mosimane on returning to Bafana Bafana 14 years on

Mosimane was finally unveiled by the South African Football Association (SAFA) today as coach Hugo Broos’ successor, three weeks after he was approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) for this position. 

Mosimane coached Bafana from 2010 to 2012, after serving as assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira and Julio Santana. 

Since then, he has won more than 15 major trophies at club level, on the continent, and internationally. 

Mosimane says a lot has been achieved since then...

"A lot has happened since the last time I was the coach fourteen years ago. Back then I had not won anything yet. It has been a long journey and I'm happy to say I have won 21 medals in the fourteen years since I coached Bafana Bafana. I don't want to mention too many accolades, but this is the right time to return."

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Mosimane was unveiled with his two assistants, Musi Matlaba (Head of Performance Analysis) and Kabelo Rangoaga (Strength and Conditioning coach. 

Mosimane was also asked if former assistant coach Helman Mkhalele was considered for his technical team, but he says he’s surrounded by an experienced technical team, who have been to the World Cup, and is content with the team around him...

"Every coach has his own technical team and they work well together and win trophies. Fans always look at the work being done, and I have people who went to the FIFA World Cup, and they understand the way we work, and we work differently than most. The people I have in my team I believe will support me."

Meanwhile, Mosimane also steered clear of responding to Broos’ media statements, where he was quoted by the Belgian media as saying the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly head coach could take the team backwards five years, including the possibility of agents influencing the selection of the team. 

Mosimane is taking over a Bafana Bafana team that has broken into the top 55 in the world and has just returned from the FIFA World Cup, where they made history and reached the knockout stage for the first team. He says, there’s still room for improvement...

"You have to accept and acknowledge the good work that has been done, and you have to work from that platform. If we are all honest as coaches, there is always room for improvement. You've seen Bafana Bafana play at the AFCON and the World Cup and a lot of people have the opinion that they could've played even better. The moment you think it can't get any better then we are arrogant. I think there's a lot of room for improvement."