Pitso Mosimane explains Helman Mkhalele decision with Ancelotti comparison

Pitso Mosimane has defended his decision not to retain Helman Mkhalele as part of his Bafana Bafana coaching staff, saying managers typically prefer to work with trusted members of their established technical teams.

Mosimane was confirmed as the new Bafana Bafana head coach by SAFA on Tuesday, replacing Hugo Broos after the Belgian’s five-year spell in charge of South Africa’s national team.

Mkhalele worked as Broos’ assistant and had previously been suggested by the former head coach as a possible candidate to succeed him. However, Mosimane has chosen to bring in members of the team he has worked with throughout his own coaching career.

Long-serving analyst Musi Matlaba and conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga will join Mosimane in the new Bafana Bafana set-up. Mosimane stressed that both men had completed their coaching qualifications and were now coaches in their own right.

The newly appointed head coach also confirmed that he plans to add another assistant coach to his staff in the near future.

When asked whether Mkhalele had been considered for the position, Mosimane said coaches often rely on colleagues who already understand their methods and expectations. To illustrate his point, he referred to Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and his long-standing working relationship with his son, Davide.

“Everyone and every coach has his own technical team, right? And I always want to refer to practical questions,” said Mosimane.

“And I’ll tell you about Ancelotti. You know who he takes with? He takes his son. And they have won a lot of trophies. If I had my son next to me here instead of…I think you would be saying some other things.

“He’s got his son and they have won trophies, right? And the world is not looking at Ancelotti and his son, right? It’s looking at the work to be done.

“So, for us, it’s the work done, right? And I have people that have done FIFA World Cup with me here. Four of them.

“And it’s the people who understand the way I work, the way we work. We work differently. From South Africa, in the continent, even over the continent beyond the borders of the continent. So, I have the people that I think can support me. And, yeah, I think I’m giving you the right answer.”

Mosimane said his preference was based on the experience and understanding already established within his chosen technical team, rather than on the profile or standing of individual coaches.

He indicated that four members of his staff had worked with him at FIFA World Cup level and that their familiarity with his methods was an important factor in his decision-making.

The coach also suggested that the team’s work should be judged by its results and performance, rather than by outside scrutiny of the personal relationships within the technical staff.

His appointment brings an end to Broos’ time in charge of Bafana Bafana and begins a new phase for South Africa under a coach who has selected a familiar group of assistants and staff to help implement his approach.