Bright start, well thought-out player additions in Mosimane’s Bafana return

A bright start, goals, players reacting with energy, selections that added an exciting new dimension and two fairly pressured 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers down with promising victories that leave his team top of their group and in a strong position to qualify.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Is Pitso Mosimane’s wish list now complete with his return to a Bafana Bafana job he once effectively vowed he might never return to??

Perhaps, if one is super-critical, the defending by Eritrea, also stretched out of shape by some incisive South African attacking in the 5-0 thrashing in Bafana’s second match on Wednesday night left so much to be desired that a smidgen more ruthlessness might have resulted in even more than five goals.

Some on social media are already on Mosimane’s back for it, claiming it might in some manner be similar to the supposed attempted ‘tiki-taka’ the coach attempted to employ in his first stint replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira after the 2010 World Cup. That would seem a grossly unfair assessment. It is spectacularly early days for any such nitpicking.

If anything, if there were a psychologist who could analyse a team’s mindset as imprinted by the approach of a coach, Bafana and Mosimane looked determined to make a start that shows intentions from the workaholic boss to leave no stone unturned — as increasingly became his trademark post-Bafana Part I — putting behind him a departure in 2012 that still stings following a string of draws.

“Of course, when you coach you are happy with five goals, we are happy with three points,” Mosimane said after following a 2-1 win in his first match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday against a tough Guinea with the Eritrea victory.

Most importantly, Mosimane said, the results leave Bafana in a strong position for what will be a crucial qualification for an Afcon.

The coach’s mission depends not just on positive results, he has a vision of taking Bafana higher than predecessor Hugo Broos’s rejuvenation in confidence of the long-ailing national team in the last five years.

Mosimane has dropped hints that, yes, the bronze medal the Belgian achieved in the Afcon in 2024, the best result for South Africa in 24 years, was promising, but the team, with some real talent emerging, should be aiming for a first victory in the tournament since their lone triumph in 1996, and to be more competitive at a World Cup than Broos’s combination were, going out in the last 32 to Canada in June.

Broos is 74, Mosimane is 62. To mirror that age difference, there seems to be a gap in freshness of ideas and determination, as Broos appeared to run out of ideas to some extent and some of his selections raised eyebrows in the build-up to and during the World Cup.

“Eritrea started well, they had a chance and hit the post,” Mosimane said. “Their No 10 [Ali Sulieman] is very strong, he scores a lot of goals and we had to look after him.

“I’m happy we won, that’s the most important; six points from two games. A good performance from our boys, we showed respect and played proper football.”

Given Broos’s tenure and the last Nations Cup — Bafana were more disappointing going out in the last 16 in Morocco in January — and World Cup cycles ending, it was pleasing to see Mosimane injecting youth with a 30-player squad, casting his net wide to get to know the leading players close up, which had an average age of 24. It seemed a natural next move. Not all coaches are brave enough to do it facing must-win qualifiers with no warm-ups in their opening two fixtures.

He had clearly observed some of Broos’ late-tenure mistakes closely. Of course he had. That is what Mosimane does — his leading quality with his team of backroom boffins was thoroughness, transforming Mamelodi Sundowns from often under-performing huge spenders into trophy machines and adding two more Caf Champions Leagues at Al Ahly.

Olwethu Makhanya might have come in as a replacement for enforced injury Mbekezeli Mbokazi at centreback, but by how Mosimane spoke, it was clear he was itching to introduce a player setting Scotland’s Rangers alight anyway and was grateful the gap opened to make that move easier.

With Mbokazi, Bafana’s most promising player in years, back playing at Chicago Fire, Mosimane has probably two of the best centreback talents in Africa right now. Ime Okon — and some others on the bench like Khulumani Ndamane — also has major potential but will battle to get his place back now. It’s the kind of competition coaches drool at.

I’m happy one of the most experienced players, Themba Zwane, managed to get the chance [coming on as a 79^th-minute substitute in Cairo] because I would not like him to not play after the [hugely controversial] red card he got in the World Cup. So bring him back, give him the respect, the confidence.

—  Pitso Mosimane

Luther Singh repaid the coach for his recall from the wilderness, Mosimane spotting his form despite playing in remote Cyprus, with a goal as a substitute against Eritrea. Samukelo Kabini scored as a sub against Guinea and looks set for more than the squad role Broos seemed to have him down for.

Kamogelo Sebelebele took the opportunity presented by stalwart right-back Khuliso Mudau’s injury with both hands as man-of-the-match against Guinea. Mudau is getting on in years, so potential replacements are welcome and will eye their chance.

Relebohile Mofokeng, hidden to some extent to fans and many Bafana legends’ dismay by a cautious Broos at the World Cup, took the confidence he has gained, taking to European football with four goals in nine games at Belgium’s Royale Union Saint Gilloise, into Mosimane’s new spell. The former Buccaneer buzzed against Guinea then scored the opening brace — his first international goals — that broke Eritrea.

“From the team that came from the World Cup we had five players out injured and one who passed on, may his soul rest in peace, Jayden [Adams],” Mosimane said when asked by the Egyptian press — fans of the coach from before his time at Ahly — about the youthful nature of his team after the clash against Eritrea, played in Cairo due to that country’s lack of an approved venue.

“And we had to bring in five new players and had to bring young players, [some based in] Europe, give them the opportunity to play. That’s all we wanted, to bring the age down, but also don’t focus only on bringing the age down; experience also helps. So we have some experienced players.

“I’m happy one of the most experienced players, Themba Zwane, managed to get the chance [coming on as a 79^th minute substitute in Cairo] because I would not like him to not play after the [hugely controversial] red card he got in the World Cup. So bring him back, give him the respect, the confidence.

“But ja, the foundation is good. It’s the team coming from the World Cup. But just improve it a little bit and let’s try to score more goals.

“You have to be happy with seven goals. Very good.”

Colourful quotes in Bafana press conferences to keep the South African press happy. Tick.

Welcome home, and back where you belong, Mr Mosimane.