Simba SC coach Steve Barker has credited Pitso Mosimane for paving the way for South African coaches to take up jobs on the continent, and is bracing for compatriots clashing in the CAF Champions League.
Four South African coaches are set to lead their respective clubs across the continent in Africa’s premier club competition this season. Barker’s Simba, as well as their Tanzanian arch-rivals Young Africans SC, who are under Manqoba Mngqithi, will be bidding to be crowned African champions.
Rulani Mokwena is on a mission to help Egyptian side Pyramids FC reclaim the Champions League title, which they won at the end of the 2024/25 season. At Nsingizini Hotspurs FC in Eswatini, former Orlando Pirates development coach Mandla Qhogi will also test himself in the continental competition.
Interestingly, Betway Premiership clubs in the Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup are coached by non-South Africans. Reigning African champions Mamelodi Sundowns have Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso at the helm, while French-Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou leads Pirates.
Frenchman Fernando Da Cruz and Tunisian Khalil Ben Youssef are in charge of Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City FC, respectively, with both clubs participating in the Confederation Cup.
WHAT AWAITS SOUTH AFRICAN COACHES IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Champions League first preliminary round is set to kick off on the weekend of September 4 to 6. Simba have Malawian champions Mighty Wanderers while Young Africans will be attempting to get past Gaborone United.
Mokwena’s Pyramids will be up against Kenyan giants Gor Mahia, as Nsingizini Hotspurs were drawn against Zimbabwean PSL champions Scottland FC.
Should Simba reach the second preliminary round, they will set up a date with the winner of the match between FC 15 de Agosto de Akonibe from Equatorial Guinea and Comorian outfit Fomboni FC de Moheli.
In the event Yanga get past Gaborone United, waiting for them in the last hurdle to the group stage would be either Malagasy side CFFA or Lijabatho FC from Lesotho. By securing passage to the second preliminary round, Pyramids will face South Sudanese champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu or Somali side Heegan SC.
If Qhogi’s Nsingizini beat Scottland, they will meet the winner between Mozambican champions UD Songo and Petro Atletico from Angola.
STEVE BARKER ON WHAT IT MEANS FOR SA COACHES WORKING AT CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SIDES
In a conversation with FARPost in Tanzania, Barker lauded Mosimane’s trailblazing path for South African coaches. In his first coaching job outside the Betway Premiership, Mosimane joined Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The incoming Bafana Bafana coach then won two Champions League titles with Al Ahly, and that included beating Chiefs in the 2020/21 final.
“I think it started with Pitso’s success on the continent. It opened for Rulani also going out and having good success, Fadlu [Davids] obviously having some good success,” Barker told FARPost.
“It sort of shows that South African coaches have the talent and ability to succeed, not just with any clubs but with big-name clubs. Al Ahly, Pyramids, Simba. It bodes well for the future, for South African coaches to have that opportunity to coach on the continent and challenge themselves. It’s good to see.
“So, hopefully, in the Champions League there will be more encounters between South African coaches. I wish them all well. At the end of the day, we are all South Africans; we want success for everybody.”
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