ED AARONS

JOHANNESBURG - There’s a billboard advertising a certain brand of cereal that was erected during the World Cup that features Pitso Mosimane and the message “chase your dreams”.

Those words proved to be prophetic for the 45-year-old former assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira yesterday as he was finally handed the keys to Bafana Bafana for the next four years. Mosimane, who acted as interim coach before Parreira’s first appointment in January 2007, was finally confirmed in the position after an interview with Safa’s technical committee earlier this month.

Facing the media in Sandton, the man known affectionately as “Jingles” was given a round of applause as he was unveiled, before reading out a statement that thanked Safa for placing their trust in him.

“I received this promotion because of extensive knowledge of local and international football,” said Mosimane.

“I’ve come to add value and creativity – it is my vision to take Bafana Bafana to a higher level on the journey to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I have the passion and dedication and I am equal to the challenges that I will face.

“Everyone has to prove themselves – I’m not expecting any favours because I know results are the name of the game,” he said.

With reigning African champions Egypt in the same qualifying group for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, he will need to hit the ground running. Only the winners and the best two runners-up from 10 groups will make it through, meaning picking up maximum points against weaker sides Niger and Sierra Leone will be crucial.

But with the undoubted momentum of the World Cup campaign that saw Bafana’s ranking rise to 66th, Mosimane promised he will not be making any wholesale changes.

“I want the country to know that I have not arrived to turn everything upside down. This job is about taking tough decisions and I’m not afraid to do that,” he said.

“To those who don’t believe in my ability, I would like to ask for time to prove myself. I’m ready and I think I have the energy for the long-haul.”

After the success of Germany’s youthful side in South Africa, Mosimane also vowed to give young players a chance in the Bafana set-up, with the former SuperSport United coach set to work “hand-in-hand” with Safa’s technical director Serame Letsoaka to help establish better development programmes.

In the interests of continuity, Jairo Leal, fellow assistant to Parreira, and fitness trainer Francisco “Chico” Gonzales are also likely to stay on. All will be revealed next week when the new coach will outline his vision for the team, although he will definitely have no doubt what is expected of him.

“It is critical that we qualify for Afcon and the 2014 World Cup,” said Safa CEO Leslie Sedibe.

“The coach understands that mandate and now it is important that we give him the support that he needs.”