Farouk Khan Explains Why Pitso Mosimane Is Not His Choice For Bafana Bafana Job
Former Safa technical advisor says Pitso has proved his greatness, but warns national team job requires international pedigree
Former South African Football Association technical advisor Farouk Khan has praised Pitso Mosimane as one of Africa’s finest coaches, but believes the decorated mentor is not the ideal candidate to take over as Bafana Bafana head coach.
With Safa searching for a successor to Hugo Broos after the Belgian coach’s successful five year tenure, debate has intensified over who should lead South Africa’s national team into the next chapter.
Mosimane’s name has naturally emerged as one of the strongest contenders. The former Bafana coach has built an impressive reputation through his achievements with clubs across Africa and the Middle East, including winning major continental honours.
However, Khan believes the national team role demands a coach with significant international experience, something he feels remains a gap in Mosimane’s coaching journey.
“Coach Pitso has proven beyond doubt that he is a top coach, and he has done exceptionally well in African club football,” Khan said.
“But you must remember that when Hugo Broos came in, he already had sufficient experience at international level. As much as Pitso is a great coach, he has not had much experience in international football. His previous stint with Bafana was a short one.”
Khan warns Safa against taking risks with Bafana appointment
Khan believes South Africa cannot afford to gamble with the next appointment and should look for a coach who has already handled the pressure and demands of international football.
According to him, managing a national team requires different qualities compared with club football, where coaches work with players daily and have more time to implement their systems.
“He is an excellent man manager, but you have to ask yourself whether we should take a gamble on someone who lacks extensive international experience,” Khan said.
“This position requires a coach with international pedigree. Building a national team is not about giving someone the opportunity to learn on the job.”
The search for Broos’ replacement comes after the Belgian restored belief in Bafana Bafana during his time in charge. Under Broos, South Africa secured a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations and improved their competitiveness against some of the continent’s strongest teams.
Khan believes Safa should use that success as a guide when selecting the next coach.
Broos blueprint should influence Safa decision, says Khan
Although he remains an admirer of Mosimane, Khan believes the national team should once again target a coach with proven international credentials.
“As much as I am a fan of Pitso, I believe if we have options, we should appoint someone with international pedigree, just as we did with Broos,” he said.
“Before Broos, we had several coaches in short spells and we did not achieve much. We should learn from the success we had under him.”
Mosimane remains one of the most respected South African coaches in history. His achievements with clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly have cemented his reputation as a continental football heavyweight.
However, Khan’s comments highlight the difficult decision facing Safa as it weighs experience, reputation and long term vision while searching for the next leader of Bafana Bafana.
The appointment will be closely watched as South Africa aims to build on the progress made under Broos and establish greater consistency on the international stage.
