Sono urges Mosimane to build on Broos foundation in Bafana Bafana return

Former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono has advised Pitso Mosimane to avoid making sweeping changes as he begins his second spell in charge of South Africa, warning that the new coach has little time to prepare for the team’s next competitive matches.

Sono believes Mosimane has inherited a strong squad structure from former coach Hugo Broos and should focus on continuity rather than attempting to rebuild the national team from the beginning.

South Africa are due to face Guinea on 26 September and Eritrea four days later in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures. Egypt will then provide the opposition in a friendly on 4 October, giving Mosimane a demanding schedule soon after his appointment.

“The foundation is there. That guy (Broos), he built a foundation for Pitso,” Sono told Radio 2000.

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

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

“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 has direct experience of taking charge of Bafana Bafana during a period of transition. He became caretaker coach after replacing Clive Barker in 1998 and guided South Africa to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

He was also the caretaker coach when Bafana Bafana competed at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, an experience that informs his view that familiarity and team understanding are especially important when a manager has limited preparation time.

Mosimane announced his preliminary squad for the upcoming international break on Friday. His first selection includes 10 new faces: Yanela Mbuthuma, Cemran Dansin, Tshepo Mashiloane, Puso Dithejane, Shandre Campbell, Lebone Seema, Tashreeq Matthews, Ronaldo Van Neel, Lebohang Maboe and Luther Singh.

The additions indicate that Mosimane is already prepared to introduce new players as he begins putting his own mark on the side. However, Sono’s recommendation is for those changes to be limited initially, with the core of the team retained.

Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Broos. Mosimane will now attempt to build on that platform while preparing for the immediate challenge of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

With Guinea and Eritrea approaching within days of one another, Sono believes the players who represented South Africa at the World Cup should form the basis of Mosimane’s team, with only one or two additions made at this stage.