Newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has hinted that Helman Mkhalele will not form part of his technical team and is actively searching for a new assistant coach.
Mkhalele was at the heart of the Bafana team that enjoyed success under former coach Hugo Broos in the last five years.
Despite Broos suggesting Mkhalele as his preferred successor, Mosimane has decided to take a different route and introduce his own technical team, which includes his trusted lieutenants Musi Matlaba (performance analysis coach) and Kabelo Rangoaga (fitness coach).
Addressing the media shortly after being unveiled during a press conference at SAFA House in Nasrec on Tuesday, Mosimane confirmed that he is still in search of an assistant coach.
READ: SAFA officially unveils Pitso Mosimane as new Bafana Bafana coach
Mosimane said:
“Everyone and every coach has their own technical team, right? And I always want to refer to practical questions.”
‘We work differently’
“And I’ll tell you about Carlo Ancelotti. You know who he takes with him? He takes his son [Davide Ancelotti]. And they have won a lot of trophies. If I had my son next to me here instead of… I think you would be saying some other things.
“He’s got his son, and they have won trophies, right? And the world is not looking at Ancelotti and his son, right? It’s looking at the work to be done. So, for us, it’s the work done, right? And I have people who have done the FIFA World Cup with me here. Four of them.
“And it’s the people who understand the way I work, the way we work. We work differently. From South Africa, in the continent, even over the continent beyond the borders of the continent. So, I have the people that I think can support me. And, yeah, I think I’m giving you the right answer,” he added.
Mosimane is expected to hit the ground running upon his return as Bafana coach 14 years later, with two upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier matches against Guinea and Eritrea later this month.
- Pitso Mosimane has indicated that Helman Mkhalele will not be part of his Bafana Bafana technical team.
- Mosimane is actively searching for a new assistant coach following his appointment as Bafana Bafana coach.
- Mosimane's technical team includes Musi Matlaba as performance analysis coach and Kabelo Rangoaga as fitness coach.
- Former coach Hugo Broos had suggested Mkhalele as his preferred successor, but Mosimane opted to build his own team.
- Mosimane highlighted that his team includes four people who have worked with him at the FIFA World Cup.
