Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has thrown his weight behind Pitso Mosimane to be appointed the next Bafana Bafana coach, saying that is who South African football needs right now.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been busy looking for Hugo Broos’ replacement following the incumbent’s statement before leaving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that he will step down from his post and retire after the tournament.
The Belgian has enjoyed a successful tenure with Bafana where the qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) twice and finished on the podium in one of the tournaments. He also guided South Africa to the World Cup after a 16-year absence where they also made history by making it out of the group and exited at the Round of 32 at the hands of Canada last Sunday.
McKenzie, who was present at the teams’ arrival from the global showpiece currently ongoing in USA, Mexico and Canada at the OR Tambo International airport on Thursday morning, stated that the FA shouldn’t try and complicate things by hiring anyone who is not Mosimane.
“You know, the problem with South Africa sometimes we complicate very uncomplicated things,” the Minister told SABC.
“I’ve been looking and listening to SAFA, we are short-listing different coaches, there’s no different coaches, there’s one coach that must lead Bafana Bafana, and that is Pitso Mosimane. Let us leave this trying all to be all complicated things.”
“The next coach of Bafana Bafana should be Pitso Mosimane. We need a person that understands our boys, a person that was praising Hugo Broos. What more do you want Pitso to do? So I’ve put my weight as the Minister of Sport behind Pitso Mosimane.”
“We have seen how France is playing with Dechamps Didier, they play their soccer, even Ronaldo even said they’re playing the samba, they’re playing their brand of soccer. Going forward, we’re going to unearth a lot of players. Pitso Mosimane is the coach that must take Bafana Bafana forward.”
“Hugo Broos, we love him, and he said to us, if he was to stay, he will hand over to Pitso, but I hear all these names that’s being branded, hey wait, Pitso Mosimane, what more do you want. This man what more must Pitso do for him to be there?”
Asked if he has had a conversation with SAFA or the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly mentor, McKenzie said he’s spoken to both parties while revealing he has appealed to Mosimane to not listen to other offers.
“I’ve had a conversation with both of them,” added the Minister.
“I’ve had a conversation with Danny Jordan. I’ve had a conversation with the chairperson of the technical team. I think he’s the chairperson.
“I’ve had a conversation with Pitso. Pitso got many orders. I’m the one that said ‘Pitso don’t take them’. We need Pitso Mosimane now.
“Our football, because you know Pitso wrote a book that I’ve read. You must read that book. You can see that man has a plan.
“Now you want bring somebody here that speaks French, Monsieur, Monsieur… The players don’t know English, they don’t know French, he doesn’t know English, no we can’t have that.”