Malesela challenges Broos over ‘five years’ warning after Mosimane appointment

Dan Malesela has criticised Hugo Broos for claiming South African football would be set back five years if Pitso Mosimane replaced him as Bafana Bafana coach.

Broos has since congratulated Mosimane on his appointment, but Malesela questioned what the Belgian had achieved during his own time in charge of the national team.

The former Bafana Bafana coach said Broos should not speak as though South Africa had won silverware under his leadership. The country’s only major international trophy remains the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, secured under late South African-born manager Clive “The Dog” Barker.

Malesela said Broos’ comments about Mosimane were disrespectful and rejected the suggestion that appointing the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach would represent a backward step.

“I hated what this former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos just said the other day, him saying if SAFA appoints Pitso we will go back five years, labantu bayasidelela, he sees himself as what exactly,” Malesela told KickOff.

“He acts as if we have won something under his leadership. We haven’t won anything. Yes, we reached the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup, but that’s because the number of teams participating has increased.

“If the teams were still 32, it means we would have ended right there, in the last 32. If the format was not changed.”

Malesela was referring to South Africa’s progress at the FIFA World Cup while Broos was in charge, arguing that the team’s achievement should be viewed in the context of the tournament’s expanded format.

Broos also questioned whether Mosimane could be influenced by agents, a comment that drew a further angry response from Malesela. The former coach said the remark was inappropriate and suggested it raised an implication about Mosimane’s conduct during his first spell in charge of Bafana Bafana.

“This Broos is even including agents, saying Pitso will be influenced by agents… what does he mean by that? Does he mean Pitso was stealing during his first tenure? It’s a rubbish statement.”

Malesela also rejected the idea that Mosimane should be judged solely on his previous period as South Africa manager. Mosimane had not yet coached Mamelodi Sundowns at that stage, and Malesela argued that his subsequent work had demonstrated his development as a coach.

“You cannot judge Pitso by his first stint. At that time, Pitso hadn’t even coached Sundowns. The man has improved, and the records speak for themselves”

Broos’ warning came as South African football reacted to Mosimane’s return to the Bafana Bafana role. Although Broos has congratulated his successor, his earlier assessment of the appointment has continued to attract criticism.

Malesela’s comments also revived the debate over the results achieved by recent Bafana Bafana coaches. Barker remains the only manager to have guided South Africa to a major trophy, with victory in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations standing as the country’s defining success.