Former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has explained why he is convinced that Pitso Mosimane has the potential to match or surpass Hugo Broos’ achievements as South Africa coach.
Mosimane was recently appointed as the new men’s senior national team coach, taking over from Broos, who spent five years at the helm of Bafana. The former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician returns to the national side after a previous stint between 2010 and 2012 that was largely unsuccessful.
But after tasting continental success by leading Sundowns and Egyptian giants Al Ahly to CAF Champions League titles, Mosimane feels he is now ripe for silverware with a national team. Before landing the Bafana job again, the 62-year-old stated that his next target would be winning AFCON with an African football nation.
That saw him being linked with the Nigeria and Ghana national team jobs. But he ended up replacing Broos as South Africa coach.
THE BAR SET BY HUGO BROOS
Arriving in South Africa in 2021, Broos boasted a glowing record, including guiding Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title. After failing to help Bafana qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he inspired them to a bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON.
But his team regressed, and their 2025 AFCON campaign ended at the Last 16 hurdle. However, that was atoned for by making history at the 2026 World Cup, where Bafana progressed past the group stage for the first time.
Broos then exited as the longest-serving Bafana coach after five years in charge.
‘BROOS DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING WITH BAFANA BAFANA’: THULANI HLATSHWAYO BACKS MOSIMANE
However, Broos left Bafana without any silverware, and their realistic chance of lifting a trophy might have been AFCON. The biggest yardstick for a Bafana coach remains being crowned African champions, a feat achieved by the late Clive Barker in 1996. In an interview with FARPost, Hlatshwayo feels Mosimane has the tools to surpass Broos.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge for him [to match or surpass Broos]. But I think now coach Pitso Mosimane has all the credentials to coach Bafana Bafana going forward,” Hlatshwayo told FARPost. “If we are to be honest, the only bar that was set was qualifying for the World Cup Last 32. Not taking anything away from coach Hugo Broos or being disrespectful, he didn’t win anything.
“We need to have some silverware. We need someone who will set the bar high. What he has done is put the guys together, the togetherness that you see.
“The core of the team has already been built. You can even see the preliminary squad that coach Pitso has called up; many players in the core of the team just came back from the [2026] World Cup. So, it’s obviously for him to build from there, which is a good thing. But I think coach Pitso has all the ammunition to take Bafana Bafana to the next level.”
PITSO MOSIMANE GOES FOR CONTINUITY
Mosimane has now named his preliminary squad for September’s 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as an international friendly match against Egypt on October 4.
He has kept the squad left by Broos but has added new faces like Orlando Pirates’ on-loan defender to Sekhukhune United, Tshepo Mashiloane, and Durban City FC midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel.
Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma, Cemran Dansin, Puso Dithejane and Luther Singh will be hoping to make the final selection. However, Mosimane’s pool to pick players had some key players unavailable due to injuries.
World Cup stars battling fitness issues include defenders Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Khuliso Mudau, as well as the Buccaneers duo of midfielder Thalente Mbatha and centre-forward Evidence Makgopa.
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