{
  "id": 11698406,
  "title": "‘Swimming with sharks’: Pitso Mosimane urges patience as Bafana blood starlets against Egypt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/swimming-with-sharks-pitso-mosimane-urges-patience-as-bafana-blood",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T14:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-10-03-swimming-with-sharks-pitso-mosimane-urges-patience-as-bafana-blood-starlets-against-egypt/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will lead his team against Egypt in an international friendly in Cairo on Sunday, June 26, 2027, putting aside his emotions as he focuses on developing the squad. Mosimane's first two matches as Bafana coach both resulted in victories, against Guinea and Eritrea, securing wins in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers in Orlando and Cairo. Returning to Egypt, a place that holds sentimental value due to his previous tenure at Al Ahly, Mosimane understands that facing the hosts goes beyond the challenge of a dominant African football team. The team's friendly match against Egypt will also serve as an opportunity to evaluate emerging talents and provide them with a chance to shine. Mosimane has called for patience and support for these players, emphasizing that they are breaking through and the team needs to assess their potential. Goalkeepers Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss are expected to feature, alongside players such as Fawaaz Basadien, Khulumani Ndamani, Shandre Campbell, Puso Dithejane, and Tashreeq Matthews. With injured duo Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena sidelined, Mosimane remains confident that the game against Egypt is a chance to expand the team's roster of dependable players ahead of the FIFA World Cup.",
  "summary": "Pitso Mosimane puts nostalgia aside upon returning to his former Al Ahly stomping ground, using Bafana Bafana's friendly against seven-time AFCON champions Egypt to blood next-generation talent.",
  "key_points": [
    "Pitso Mosimane leads Bafana Bafana against Egypt in June 2027 friendly.",
    "Coach focuses on developing squad, urges patience for starlets.",
    "Emerging talents like Fawaaz Basadien and Khulumani Ndamani to shine."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}