Former Orlando Pirates captain Edelbert Dinha has pinpointed a major structural difference behind Bafana Bafana’s resurgence, which he believes Zimbabwe must replicate to turn their fortunes around.
Dinha believes Zimbabwe’s core flaw lies in their backroom structure, noting that the Warriors lack a full-time technical setup and a locally based goalkeeper coach similar to the model Pitso Mosimane enjoys with Bafana Bafana.
The contrast in stability was evident during the opening round of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Bafana Bafana made a strong start, securing a 2-1 victory over Guinea before thrashing Eritrea 5-0. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe clawed back from two goals down to edge Sierra Leone 3-2, before suffering a 2-1 defeat to DR Congo on home soil.
Both southern African nations recently ushered in new technical leadership, with Mosimane heading Bafana Bafana and Ramon Catala taking charge of the Warriors.
However, Mosimane is supported by an experienced, full-time backroom staff featuring assistant coach Morena Ramoreboli, Head Performance Analyst Musi Matlaba, Strength and Conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga, and goalkeeper coach Marcus Mashilo.
PITSO MOSIMANE’S HOME-BASED TECHNICAL TEAM HOLDS BLUEPRINT FOR ZIMBABWE
Catala is assisted by fellow Spaniards Marc Sanchez and Vicente Girona Izquierdo, alongside Zimbabwean coach Takesure Chiragwi. The latter, regarded as the most knowledgeable local voice in the setup, combines his national duties with his role at CAPS United.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper coach Pernell McKop is based in South Africa, where he serves on the technical staff at Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC.
With Zimbabwe currently grappling with a goalkeeping crisis—highlighted by Magesi FC shot-stopper Elvis Chipezeze coming under fire for costly blunders—Dinha insists the Warriors must take a leaf out of South Africa’s book.
Although Bafana goalkeeper coach Marcus Mashilo also operates on a part-time basis, he remains grounded in local football through his Betway Premiership role at Marumo Gallants, unlike McKop, who works across borders.
EDELBERT DINHA EXPLAINS HOW BAFANA BAFANA’S FULL-TIME BACKROOM MODEL CAN RESCUE ZIMBABWE
Speaking to FARPost in an interview, Dinha said the difference between the two nations lies in how their technical teams are structured.
“What has worked for South Africa from the time of Hugo Broos and now under Pitso Mosimane is continuity and having a full-time technical team. Those coaches are not just waiting for international breaks; they are on the ground, tracking players week in, week out.”
“For us in Zimbabwe, we need to copy that model. You cannot have national team coaches who are also coaching clubs, especially outside of Zimbabwe. How will they have time to scout, track and assess all our players, including those in the diaspora? Ideally, we appoint coaches on a full-time basis.”
Dinha added that a dedicated goalkeeper coach working daily with the national team pool would help solve the current crisis, or at least one who is in Zimbabwe’s PSL.
“Look at the situation with our goalkeepers. We need a specialist who is working with them [goalkeepers] constantly, not only when we have a game. That is how South Africa fixed their problems, and that is how we can fix ours,” he declared.
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