Mosimane vows criticism will fuel his second Bafana Bafana reign

Pitso Mosimane has insisted criticism will not unsettle him as he begins his second permanent spell as head coach of South Africa’s senior men’s national team.

The newly appointed Bafana Bafana manager was formally presented by the South African Football Association (SAFA) at a high-profile media briefing at SAFA House in Nasrec on Tuesday morning.

Mosimane, a three-time continental winner, was asked how he would respond to supporters who may not fully back the team during his return. The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach said he accepted that football would always produce differing opinions and rejected the idea that he needed universal approval.

The 62-year-old said he had seen strong support for Bafana Bafana among South Africans, while acknowledging that some people would continue to criticise his appointment and decisions.

“I’ve seen [most] South Africans supporting the team…There will always be one or two who can say whatever you want to say, even amongst yourselves (media), right?

“This is a…. It’s football, right? It’s football. You can never be liked by everybody, right? If you say ‘Carlo Ancelotti is the right person to go to Brazil when they left, I think maybe Brazilians had a different opinion on Ancelotti. Who has won more than anyone in the world, right?

“[Zinedine] Zidane is there, so it’s football. It’s a game of opinions, and criticism is important because it makes us not too comfortable and sitting on our laurels and in our comfort zone. For me, criticism fuels me a lot.”

Mosimane’s return comes with little time for an extended settling-in period. His first responsibility will be to guide South Africa through their forthcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Bafana Bafana are scheduled to play Guinea and Eritrea in successive fixtures later this month, giving Mosimane an immediate opportunity to begin shaping the side for the new era.

The appointment marks the start of his second permanent term in charge of the national team. His previous coaching background includes successful spells with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, while his record has established him as one of the most decorated coaches in African football.

Despite the attention surrounding his return and the scrutiny that will accompany his opening matches, Mosimane maintained that criticism can serve a useful purpose. Rather than viewing negative reaction as a distraction, he said it could prevent complacency and encourage the team to keep improving.

For now, his focus is on preparing Bafana Bafana for the two AFCON qualifiers, with the support of the majority of South African fans and the expectations that come with leading the national side.