Pitso Mosimane in Talks for South Africa Football Head Coach Position

Potential Return of Pitso Mosimane

Johannesburg, South Africa - On August 8, the South African Football Association has initiated discussions with Pitso Mosimane regarding a possible return as head coach, following the impending departure of Hugo Broos from the position.

Danny Jordaan, the president of the South African Football Association, indicated that Mosimane is the top candidate for the role but mentioned that there are still some details to finalize before the appointment can be confirmed.

In a statement released by SAFA, Jordaan noted, “We will announce the new coach formally next week.”

The 62-year-old Mosimane previously led the national team after the 2010 World Cup, taking over from Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, under whom he had served for three years.

However, his tenure ended in mid-2012 after a lackluster start to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Mosimane has an impressive track record, having won the African Champions League three times with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly from Egypt. Yet, he faced a significant setback during the final qualifier for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

In that match against Sierra Leone, he opted for a defensive strategy, mistakenly believing that a draw would suffice for qualification. Unfortunately, South Africa needed a victory to advance, leading to a premature celebration when they realized the qualification rules were misunderstood.

Hugo Broos, the Belgian coach aged 74, stepped down after South Africa's participation in this year's World Cup, where the team reached the round of 32 before being eliminated by co-hosts Canada.