The man with ‘no filter’: The second coming of Pitso Mosimane to Bafana Bafana

Pitso Mosimane, the forthright and confident coach, has returned to lead South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana. After a 14-year hiatus since his first tenure in 2008, Mosimane believes in his abilities and is determined to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Hugo Broos. Broos, who coached Bafana Bafana from 2021 to 2026, transformed the team and led them to their first World Cup appearance since 2010, as well as a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Mosimane's return to coaching Bafana Bafana comes with no filter and no hesitation. When he is happy, he expresses it openly, and when he is unhappy, he is equally vocal. Like Broos, Mosimane possesses a strong self-confidence and is not swayed by critics or the noise of the supporters. He has already started recruiting his technical team, including fitness and conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga, performance analyst Musi Matlaba, and assistant coach Morena Ramoreboli, who previously led Botswana to Afcon qualification.

Mosimane's immediate goal is to secure Bafana Bafana's qualification for the 2027 Afcon, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The team will face tough competition, grouped with Kenya, Guinea, and Eritrea. However, Mosimane believes that the foundation laid by Broos has set the stage for success. Former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono, who mentored Mosimane, is confident in the 62-year-old's abilities and expects him to take the team to new heights.