Mario Masha boost for Pitso Mosimane’s project

Mthokozisi Dube

April 30, 2026
2:02 pm

Mario Masha at the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football [PMYF]. Picture: FARPost

Former Pitso Mosimane and Bafana Bafana coach’s youth football project has received a major boost, with respected performance analyst Mario Masha coming on board.

Masha recently parted ways with Mamelodi Sundowns following a suspension. He was suspended in February following allegations that he leaked tactical information to former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, then at the Algerian side MC Alger, ahead of a critical CAF Champions League clash.

Mokwena denied these claims, insisting their communication was purely professional and centred around Masha’s UEFA coaching studies. The UEFA A License holder’s contract with the Brazilians would have come to an end at the end of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

After Pitso Mosimane Youth Football [PMYF] acquired the status of East Rand Athletic FC, Masha was spotted at their first game against Jomo Cosmos. Masha and Mosimane have come a long way, having won the CAF Champions League together in 2016.

The analyst went on to work with Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi, and, most recently, Miguel Cardoso, winning multiple league titles.

MOSIMANE CONFIRMS MARIO MASHA’S INVOLVEMENT AT PMYF

Mario Masha with Pitso Mosimane Youth Football [PMYF] players and a coach. Photo: FARPost

“I think you know the history of Mario Masha, so I don’t want to go there,” Mosimane told journalists. “Mario gave me a call and said, ‘Coach, why am I sitting at home when I belong to the football’ and I said ‘Mario, unfortunately, we don’t have the biggest foundation that could sustain you, and we don’t run a Bill Gates foundation here and we don’t have money’ and he said ‘Coach it’s not about the money’.”

The three-time CAF Champions League winner, however, admitted that the moment Masha has a professional contract offer, he will move on. He believes his experience will be important for the team.

“I said when the big teams come, please go, but at this point in time, you’re allowed to come here to help and support after working at the highest level. He’s got experience to give to these boys, so I asked him to do his match analysis as we do at Premier League and let’s raise the bar.”

Meanwhile, Masha is expected to implement elite-level match analysis for the Under-14 to Under-19 squads, giving young players a taste of professional preparation. PMYF is expanding rapidly after acquiring the status of the East Rand club.

Based in Tsakane, the project is currently scouting for the next generation of talent. They are scheduled to conduct trials for Under-19 and U-15 over the weekend, and for Under-17 and Under-14 next weekend, as they try to beef up their GDL squad. The trials will be held at Veritas College in Springs, with children paying an administration fee of R150.