SEDIBENG.- Zakes’ Sports Corner does not doubt that Coach Pitso Mosimane has big shoes to fill when he replaces Hugo Broos as the new Bafana Bafana manager.
The news is that the SAFA committee has approved Coach Pitso to take over from Broos, who leaves behind a lasting legacy.
This is where he earned respect.
Broos came to this country as a “plumber” and became a superhero.
No one gave him a chance when he took over as the Bafana Bafana manager, but he led this country to qualify back-to-back in the African Cup of Nations.
This is where he earned respect from South Africans.
Wait a minute, I didn’t finish, not only that!
He took Bafana Bafana to the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a sixteen-year absence from this global tournament.
Bafana Bafana made history when they qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Last 32.
Wait, wait, Zakes’ Sports Corner is not finished yet. Bafana Bafana made history when they qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Last 32 for the first time. For those with selective memories, Broos is the most successful Bafana Bafana coach, otherwise known as ‘Wafana Wafana’.
The old man brought a HELL of a lot of experience to South African football!
Back to the appointment of Coach Pitso.
Despite the news that Pitso is the new Bafana Bafana coach, we are still waiting for official confirmation from SAFA.
In fact, it has been reported that Coach Pitso initially turned down SAFA’s five-million-a-year salary, and we were also told that the South African football governing body has doubled the amount to a 10-million-a-year salary.
Coach Pitso has to prove himself regardless of his CV.
However, Coach Pitso is still going to earn less than what Broos netted a year. The point is that Coach Pitso has to prove himself regardless of his CV, having won the CAF Champions League with both Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly back-to-back.
Broos came into this country with a colourful CV, with AFCON gold medals hanging around his neck during his time with Cameroon.
Those with short memories, Coach Pitso is also not a starter; at one stage he was at the helm of Bafana Bafana’s coaching but…..!!!
He is familiar with Bafana Bafana’s set-up, even though much has since changed, and Broos has proved that anything is possible regardless of our circumstances. The sad reality is that Coach Pitso is or will be under pressure to achieve more than Broos did in his five years with our senior national team.
He turned Bafana Bafana into winners when he took over.
We called him names.
Zakes’ Sports Corner will say this once again: No one, I mean, no one gave him a chance when SAFA appointed him as Bafana Bafana coach.
We, of course, called him names, not knowing what the old man had in store for our football. The truth is that he achieved what many before him failed to achieve, and for that, Coach Pitso has big shoes to fill.
But having said this, Coach Pitso Mosimane is one of the most decorated coaches in Africa.
He knows what is expected from him.
No doubt he will continue where Broos left off, taking into consideration his African football experience.
