Pitso Mosimane criticised over decision to leave Helman Mkhalele out of Bafana Bafana staff

Former Mamelodi Sundowns player Lovers Mohlala has questioned Pitso Mosimane’s choice of backroom staff after the coach began his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana.

Mosimane has won all three of his matches since returning as South Africa head coach and is preparing for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.

His coaching team includes Morena Ramoreboli as assistant coach, Marcu Mashilo as goalkeeper coach and Musi Matlaba as head analyst. Matlaba works alongside assistant analyst Tshepo Mahao and opposition analyst Goolam Valodia, while Kabelo Rangoaga is responsible for strength and conditioning.

Mohlala believes Mosimane should have considered former professional players who are now qualified coaches, including Helman Mkhalele, who was not included in the new setup.

“My only concern is that our local coaches don’t want each other… or, let me rather say they don’t want other former soccer players in their space,” Mohlala said in the latest edition of KICK OFF Magazine.

“For me, even if Pitso’s wife [Moira Tlhagale] can be the agent, Pitso was supposed to be able to actually understand ukuthi [that] this guy was my fellow brother, I was playing with him, and I can’t take him out of work because he has a family to feed.

“But that’s the way our former players who are in charge today, coaching, think… they never think of their former teammates, especially those with qualifications, to say, ‘Let me call this one.’

“Most former players call people that never played professional football.”

Mkhalele absence questioned

Mkhalele was a prominent Bafana Bafana winger during his playing career and formed part of the South Africa squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1996.

He served as Hugo Broos’ assistant from the Belgian’s appointment in 2021 until Mkhalele’s departure after the FIFA World Cup in July. His omission from Mosimane’s staff has prompted criticism from Mohlala.

“For him to call Morena [Ramoreboli], it is his choice, but you are talking about a person that knows the struggles of former players. Pitso knows the struggles of former players,” he said.

“For him to come back into the national team, yes, through merit he deserves it. But I hate to see when former players cannot stomach each other.”

South Africa’s first qualifier against Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars will take place at the Orlando Amstel Arena on November 13. The return match is scheduled for Nairobi four days later.