Pitso Mosimane confirms talks over Bafana Bafana role and says Hugo Broos’ success ‘can be matched’

South African coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed he has held discussions with the SA Football Association (Safa) about potentially succeeding Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana head coach, and insists the Belgian’s recent achievements with the national team are achievable again.

Mosimane, who previously led Bafana Bafana between 2010 and 2012, said on Thursday that officials from Safa had spoken to him and other coaches as they consider options for the future of the national side.

Speaking at the launch of his Youth Football Coaching Manual in Sandton, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly boss acknowledged that the governing body was weighing up succession plans.

“Well, the Bafana job … I don’t know when the contract (of the current coach Broos) is ending,” he said when asked directly about the position.

“Is he available or not? But I know that the federation has spoken to a lot of us about somebody to come in [with a] succession plan. What do you want? What are you going to do? What’s your plan? How do we take Bafana to a better level?”

Broos’ future under scrutiny

Broos had initially stated he would retire after the recently concluded Fifa World Cup, where he led South Africa to a historic place in the last 32, but uncertainty now surrounds his future.

Reports have suggested Safa wants the 72-year-old to remain in charge for an additional year, although the association has strongly rejected claims that any such short-term extension has been formally agreed.

Broos’ tenure has seen a resurgence in South African men’s football, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification from the group stage at the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history.

Mosimane, however, argued that while Broos has done well, his record should not be viewed as an unattainable benchmark.

“I always say that it’s important to leave the jersey at a better place. Yeah, there’s room, right? There’s room for improvement,” he said.

“I left Sundowns with the Champions League, did they have the second one? Yes. I left after winning the treble, and how many leagues have they won since?

“Every stage and every level can be reached, can be improved. It’s not the first time we qualify for the World Cup, right? It’s not the first time we did well at the Afcon. Clive Barker won it in 1996.

“So, we can maybe talk about going into the next round of knockouts. Yes, that we can celebrate. But being in semifinals, quarterfinals (of the Afcon), have we done that? Let’s be honest, right? So we can raise the bar and nobody is indispensable.”

Jordaan clashes with media over coaching questions

While Mosimane publicly acknowledged his talks with Safa, president Danny Jordaan reacted angrily when pressed by journalists about Broos’ position and reports of a one-year deal.

Jordaan dismissed suggestions that a short-term agreement with the Belgian coach had been concluded and criticised attempts to secure clarity from him in an impromptu setting.

“No-one at Safa has signed a one-year contract with Broos, it doesn’t exist, it is nonsense,” Jordaan said.

“There is a process, the technical team makes a recommendation to the national executive, and they decide on the coach.

“You cannot stop me on the street and hijack me over a decision that has not happened. South Africa must wait,” he added, before abruptly cutting short the interview and walking away.

Mosimane, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most successful club coaches, remains the leading candidate in the event Broos departs, but Safa has yet to outline a definitive timetable for any decision on the Bafana Bafana job.