Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has thrown his substantial weight behind local football legend Pitso Mosimane, calling on the SA Football Association [SAFA] to stop “complicating things” and appoint the former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician.
McKenzie’s remarks come amid growing speculation regarding the future of current Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, with the minister not mincing his words about who the successor must be.
By firmly inserting himself into the raging debate over the national team’s hot seat, the outspoken politician is already looking ahead to a future beyond the Belgian mentor, whose fate is set to be decided soon by SAFA. Doubts over Broos’s continued stay intensified after he recently admitted to missing his family back home, casting a massive shadow over his likelihood of remaining in charge.
Should he depart, the Belgian will leave a massive void. Since taking the reins back in 2021, Broos has established himself as the longest-serving coach in Bafana history. During his five-year tenure, the tactical mastermind completely transformed South Africa into a feared continental powerhouse, securing qualification for back-to-back AFCON tournaments and the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Cameroon mentor is also fresh from making history after guiding Bafana to the knockout stages of the global showpiece for the first time in history, before their fairytale run was halted by Canada in the Round of 32. Yet, despite orchestrating the country’s most successful modern era on the pitch, Broos’s future remains deeply uncertain as the hierarchy prepares for life after the Belgian.
‘STOP COMPLICATING THINGS’ – SPORTS MINISTER
While SAFA has reportedly been vetting a list of potential candidates to guide the national team forward should Broos leave, McKenzie publicly dismissed the need for a lengthy search. According to the minister, the perfect candidate is already staring the association in the face.
“I’ve been listening to SAFA saying we are short-listing different coaches,” McKenzie told SABC Sport. “There are no ‘different’ coaches. There is one coach that should lead Bafana Bafana, and that is Pitso Mosimane.”
McKenzie urged football administrators to stop overthinking the appointment and focus on what the national team truly needs: a leader who understands the local culture and the unique identity of South African football.
“Let us leave this thing of trying to complicate things,” McKenzie insisted. “The next coach of Bafana Bafana should be Pitso Mosimane. We need a person who understands our boys.”
To validate his stance, the Sports Minister drew a direct parallel to international football powerhouses, pointing out how top-tier nations succeed by hiring tactical masterminds who understand their country’s footballing DNA.
“We’ve seen how France is playing with [Didier] Deschamps—they are playing their brand of soccer,” McKenzie noted, highlighting how continuity and cultural alignment can yield massive success on the world stage.
A SMOOTH TRANSITION IS INEVITABLE
McKenzie was quick to clarify that his endorsement of Mosimane is not a slight against current boss Broos, who guided Bafana to a bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON. Instead, the minister envisions a seamless passing of the torch.
“We love Hugo Broos, and he said if he’s not staying, he will hand over to Pitso. Pitso Mosimane must be the coach who takes Bafana Bafana forward.”
With the Sports Minister making his preference crystal clear, the pressure now shifts to SAFA. Whether the football governing body will align with the Ministry’s vision and bring ‘Jingles’ back to the national setup remains to be seen.
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