Pitso Mosimane names trusted assistants for Bafana Bafana return

Pitso Mosimane has chosen long-term collaborators Musi Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoaga as assistants for his return as Bafana Bafana head coach, leaving out the backroom staff used by predecessor Hugo Broos, including former assistant Helman Mkhalele.

Mosimane was unveiled at Safa House on Tuesday after signing a four-year contract, 14 years after his first spell in charge of South Africa.

He said he intended to build on the progress made under Broos, whose team reached the knockout stage of the most recent World Cup for the first time in Bafana Bafana’s history. However, Mosimane will do so with a technical team of his own choosing.

Matlaba and Rangoaga will form part of that staff, while a third assistant and the remaining backroom appointments will be announced later. The decision means Mkhalele and goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson currently have no roles in the new set-up.

Mkhalele’s omission is particularly significant because of his standing as a former Bafana Bafana player and the contribution he made alongside Broos during a highly successful period for the national team. Broos had previously identified Mkhalele as a potential successor, subject to him gaining the required coaching qualifications.

Mosimane, however, placed his trust in Matlaba and Rangoaga because of their established working relationship. The pair have worked with him for several years and were part of teams that won more than 21 trophies across different clubs, including three CAF Champions League titles and appearances at multiple Fifa Club World Cups.

That experience, Mosimane said, made them the obvious choices as he begins his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana.

“I have people that I’ve been with to four (three) Fifa (Club) World Cups,” Mosimane stated.

“It’s the people who understand that we’ve worked differently in South Africa, the continent, and beyond. I have people that I think can support me.”

The new head coach also used Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian tactician and Brazil national team coach, to explain why managers should be able to appoint people they know and trust.

Mosimane argued that a coach’s technical team should be judged by its results and ability to deliver trophies, rather than by outside perceptions of personal connections. He pointed to Ancelotti’s decision to work with his son as an example.

“Everyone, every coach has his own technical team, right?” Mosimane stated.

“I always want to refer to practical examples. I always refer to Carlo Ancelotti. Whom does he take? His son. They’ve won a lot of trophies. If I had my son here in South Africa, you’d be talking about nepotism and all that.

“They’ve worked well and won trophies. The world is not looking at Ancelotti hiring his son, but at the work they’ve done. So, for us, it’s the same: the work that we’ve done prior.”

Mosimane’s appointment marks a return to the national team 14 years after his initial tenure. His first major decision has been to replace Broos’ established support structure with staff members who have previously helped him achieve success domestically and in continental competition.