Mosimane explains choice of Ramoreboli as Bafana Bafana assistant

Pitso Mosimane has explained why he selected Morena Ramoreboli as his first assistant coach for Bafana Bafana, describing the appointment as a sign of humility from a coach who has previously led Botswana.

Ramoreboli left his position as Botswana national team head coach to accept the role with the South African Football Association (SAFA). He will work on a full-time basis alongside Musa Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoaga.

The 43-year-old holds a CAF A licence and has progressed through the coaching ranks in the Free State’s amateur leagues before taking charge of Botswana’s senior side, known as the Zebras.

He replaces Helam Makhalele, who served as assistant coach during Hugo Broos’ tenure. Broos guided Bafana Bafana to a medal finish at the AFCON finals and qualification for the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Mosimane, whose side are scheduled to face Guinea, Eritrea and Egypt during the next FIFA dates, said Ramoreboli’s previous experience made him a natural fit for the position.

“I think you are all familiar with him,” said Mosimane.

“He has been with the Under-17 national team assisting Vela Khumalo.

“He won COSAFA for us with the senior national team.

“I think we all know him… very experienced so we don’t just bring anybody who doesn’t understand the setup of how a national team works.

“He has been the head coach of the Zebras, and he decided to be assistant coach with us.

“That’s humble of you coach.

“We can say it is a step down but probably this is a step up.

“I have respect for you especially for somebody who comes in as a senior head coach and then comes to be my assistant.

“I have respect for that.”

Mosimane is still looking for a goalkeeper coach, with Grant Johnson, who held that role under Broos, not part of the new coaching team.

The candidates Mosimane is considering are understood to be contracted to clubs in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. The goalkeeper coach position is part-time, meaning their availability will need to be agreed with their employers.

“You must also understand that some of these people are not full-time,” Mosimane said.

“You need to negotiate with the teams and make sure that they are available.

“We have sent out a few call-up letters.

“…we will have a goalkeeper coach, 100%, because I think you can’t have goalkeepers without a coach, right?

“But as you know, all those guys are part-time, right?

“These ones (Ramoreboli, Rangoaga, Matlaba) are there with me (full-time).”

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images