South Africa legend Jomo Sono urges coach Pitso Mosimane to stick to Hugo Broos’ foundation

South African football legend Jomo Sono has urged newly appointed Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane to maintain the core of the squad that performed under his predecessor Hugo Broos as the national team prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Sono, who has previously coached the South African national team, believes Mosimane should resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to the squad, particularly with the start of the AFCON qualifying campaign approaching.

The former Bafana coach says Broos has already laid a strong foundation and Mosimane should build on that work rather than attempting to create an entirely new team within a short period.

Speaking on Radio 2000, Sono appealed directly to Mosimane to trust the players who impressed under the Belgian coach.

“Pitso, there is a foundation. That guy (Broos), he built a foundation for Pitso,” Sono said.

The South African football icon believes Mosimane has limited time to prepare Bafana Bafana for their upcoming competitive matches and therefore should prioritise continuity.

“But he’s got a short space of time to prepare the team, he must prepare the team – the team that played at the World Cup, he’s got the players,” he added.

Sono warned that introducing too many new faces could disrupt the understanding that has already developed among the players.

“He must not bring new players and say, ‘We’re building this new Bafana Bafana.’ He’s playing now in three weeks’ time,” he said.

According to Sono, the players who represented South Africa at the World Cup already have an understanding of each other, making them the ideal foundation for Mosimane’s new era.

“The players who went to the World Cup, he can add one or two, they know each other, they know the style of play,” Sono explained.

For Sono, familiarity between players is one of the most important elements a national team coach must establish, particularly when preparations are limited by the international calendar.

He believes Mosimane should focus on maintaining the chemistry within the squad while gradually introducing players who can strengthen the team.

“Because being a coach is to make sure that the players know each other, the players know and understand each other on the field. It’s what you build as a coach, the understanding amongst the players,” Sono said.

Mosimane is now facing the challenge of taking over a Bafana Bafana side that has already developed a clear identity under Broos.

The Belgian coach guided South Africa through a significant period of development, with the team becoming increasingly competitive on the continental stage and securing qualification for the World Cup.

Sono’s advice therefore centres on continuity rather than revolution, with the former Bafana coach believing Mosimane can use the existing squad as the starting point for his tenure.

With the 2027 AFCON qualifiers fast approaching, Mosimane will have little time to experiment. His immediate priority will be to get results, and Sono believes relying on the established core of the squad could give him the best chance of making a strong start to his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana.