Pitso Mosimane set to be confirmed as new Bafana Bafana coach this week

The South African Football Association (Safa) is expected to confirm Pitso Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana head coach this week, with Vincent Tseka likely to remain in his role as team manager.

Mosimane and Safa are understood to have reached an agreement on Friday night following almost three weeks of negotiations. The discussions included numerous sticking points before the two sides were able to reach common ground.

One of the remaining matters is whether Tseka will continue with the national team. His contract expired in July, but Safa’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is believed to be concerned about appointing a new team manager so close to Bafana Bafana’s next camp.

South Africa face two important Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September, against Guinea and Eritrea. Safa considers the composition of the backroom staff particularly important as preparations for those matches begin.

Tseka is viewed as having a significant advantage because of his knowledge of the team’s internal dynamics and culture, developed during Hugo Broos’ time as head coach. He has also been working closely with people at CAF.

There is a feeling within the NEC that changing the team manager at this stage could create unnecessary risk before the squad meets for the qualifiers. Tseka’s possible continuation would provide some stability during the transition to Mosimane’s tenure.

Mosimane is also expected to announce a preliminary squad for the matches against Guinea and Eritrea when his appointment is made public. During the negotiations, he has been carrying out scouting work with his trusted assistants Kabelo Rangoaga and Musi Matlaba.

The former Bafana Bafana coach is believed to have agreed to an annual package worth R10m. That figure is below the R16.8m paid to Broos, who earned R1.4m a month before leaving the position. Broos’ salary had drawn criticism from Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.

It remains unclear how Safa and Mosimane resolved the issues that prolonged the negotiations. Among the matters under discussion were Mosimane’s continued involvement with the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools, his role as host of the podcast ‘Changing the Game with Pitso’ and the management of his image rights.

Safa had not wanted Mosimane to remain associated with his youth football project while returning to the national-team role. His ongoing podcast and the way his personal image rights would be handled were also believed to have contributed to the delay in reaching an agreement.

Mosimane’s expected return would come as Bafana Bafana prepare for a crucial phase of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the coach and his technical team needing to settle quickly ahead of the September fixtures.