Sport

Mosimane appointed Bafana coach

Brad Morgan

16 July 2010

Pitso Mosimane, an assistant to former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, was appointed the Brazilian's successor on Thursday. He has asked to retain Jairo Leal and Francisco Gonzalez, both of whom were members of Parreira's team.

Leal filled the position of assistant coach under Parreira, while Gonzalez was the physical trainer.

At the announcement of Mosimane's appointment, he said: "I would like to thank coach Parreira for all the mentoring and the confidence he has shown in me.

A privilege

"It has been a privilege to work with a well-known and respected international coach who has been selflessness and confident in his job," Mosimane said. "He shared with me all the knowledge he has gathered over many years of his coaching career unconditionally, and I thank him for that.

"I want the country to know that I have not arrived to throw everything upside down or out of the window, but I will not hesitate to make relevant changes where necessary in the interest of football.

"This job is about taking tough decisions that may not be popular in certain instances," Mosimane said, "but I will not hesitate to make such decisions. I will also be listening carefully and communicating effectively."

Playing career

During his playing career, Mosimane played for Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates. He also played for Greek club Ionikos, Belgium side Rita Berlaar FC, and Al Saad FC Doha in Qatar. Mosimane also earned four caps for Bafana Bafana and scored a goal on debut against Mauritius.

He started a football academy in Soweto in 1999, called Barney Molokoane, which produced four players signed by SuperSport United. He was then recruited by the club to be a scout and assistant coach.

From 2000 to 2007 Mosimane was head coach of SuperSport United. He served as an assistant coach for Bafana Bafana at the 2006 African Cup of Nations finals and joined the national team as a full time assistant in 2007.

Safa President Kirsten Nematandani said the goals the association has set for Mosimane are lofty. "Our quest to become number one in the continent has started and the process is irreversible," he said.

Progress

"Our latest improvement on the Fifa world rankings (up 17 places) is an indication of the progress made, hence our decision to continue with the technical team that understands the significance of completing the long journey that we have started.

"We have pledged to rally behind all our national teams without failure, and the results are there to be seen, in particular reference to our under-17 girls who have qualified for the Fifa under-17 Women's World Cup, and our development team that has qualified for the African Nations Championships. We will do the same with Bafana and we expect to qualify and do well in the upcoming AFCON and World Cup respectively."

With an eye on qualifying for the African Cup of Nations finals, something that Bafana Bafana failed to do for the 2010 tournament, Safa CEO Leslie Sedibe says plenty of work has gone into securing quality friendlies.

Quality opponents

"We have worked tirelessly to secure quality opponents for our senior team in preparing for the tough assignment of qualifying for the AFCON finals," he explained.

"Bafana will play the first international friendly match after the World Cup against Ghana. The match is scheduled for Soccer City in Johannesburg on the 11th of August and the 17th of November match will be announced once the contract is signed.

"Our choice of opponents is an indication that we mean business, and we need to take on the best if we are to be the greatest on the African continent."