Mosimane backs part-time local coaching team for Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane says his decision to use a largely local, part-time technical team is designed to strengthen South African coaching ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mosimane outlined his plans after leading his first training session at UJ Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday afternoon, with South Africa preparing to face Guinea in their opening qualifier at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

New goalkeeper coach Marcus Mashilo is among the staff members working with the national team on a part-time basis. Mosimane said Mashilo’s experience, rather than his profile, was the key reason for his appointment.

“Marcus is helping us with the goalkeeping department,” Mosimane said.

“Coach Mashilo worked with me at Sundowns, he worked with coach Manqoba (Mngqithi) at Sundowns, he worked with coach Rulani (Mokwena). He even went to work with coach Manqoba at Golden Arrows and has been at Marumo Gallants. He was assistant to coach Wendell (Robinson). He’s got experience.

“Marcus has been around, although we know he does not have that big name. He’s trained Kennedy (Mweene), he’s trained Denis (Onyango), he trained a lot of quality players and has brought a lot of trophies at Mamelodi Sundowns.”

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane is also expected to join the Bafana Bafana set-up on a part-time basis.

Mosimane said the decision to assemble an all-local bench was deliberate and would give South African coaches valuable exposure at international level. Long-serving performance analyst Musi Matlaba and fitness coach Kabelo Rangoaga remain part of the staff, while Tshepo Leuta Mahao has been added to support the technical data operation.

“We’ve got an assistant for Musi, Tshepo. He’s been in Algeria, he’s going to help Mmusi with all the analysis and data,” Mosimane said.

“With the technical team, local also, for me it is very important to support our local coaches, give them international experience within Bafana. It is good to have a local bench.

“Some we can’t have them on a full-time basis; they come during camps. We can’t have them full-time, so we started with Musi and Kabelo. We’ve done well.”

Mosimane also confirmed that the domestic-based players arrived at camp on Sunday without problems, while those playing abroad were joining at different times after their weekend club matches.

“Of course there are overseas players,” he said. “Some were playing yesterday (Sunday), boys like Puso (Dithejane) we know where he is travelling from. A bit too far, he’ll take about two or three flights.

“We’re expecting all our overseas players to be here. Already Luther (Singh) is here, (Samukele) Kabini is here.”

Bafana Bafana will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Guinea at 3pm on Saturday at Orlando Stadium, before travelling to Cairo to play Eritrea.