The South African Football Association has approved Pitso Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana head coach, offering him a contract worth R10 million per year. This development, reported by www.google.com this week, follows Hugo Broos's departure after the 2026 FIFA World Cup and comes as the team prepares for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers starting next month.

South Africa's World Cup campaign under Broos saw them finish second in their group with 4 points from three games, recording a win, a draw, and a loss. Their last result was a 1-1 draw with Czechia on June 18, part of a recent run of two wins, one draw, and two losses. The team scored 2 goals and conceded 3 during the tournament.

Why is Mosimane's salary controversial?

The R10 million offer has ignited a public dispute. It is notably less than the R16.8 million annual salary Broos was earning, a figure confirmed publicly by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie. SAFA's initial proposal to Mosimane was around R5 million, which his camp rejected. The association was called before Parliament's sports portfolio committee to explain the gap. SAFA president Danny Jordaan did not attend that meeting. The contract remains unsigned.

Minister McKenzie argued that SAFA should start Mosimane on what Broos earned when he began. "South Africans shouldn’t have to accept Black coaches being paid less for doing the same job," McKenzie said. The Economic Freedom Fighters party also questioned why a local coach of Mosimane's stature was offered less than a foreign counterpart, arguing his expertise was being undervalued.

What does Mosimane bring to the role?

Pitso Mosimane is no stranger to the national team, having coached Bafana Bafana between 2010 and 2012, when he reportedly earned about R9.6 million a year. He built his reputation domestically at SuperSport United before an eight-year spell at Mamelodi Sundowns where he won five league titles. In 2016, he made history by leading Sundowns to the CAF Champions League, becoming the first South African coach to win it with a South African club.

His success continued internationally with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he won back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2020 and 2021 and secured two FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals. Mosimane has also had coaching stints in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran. His proven track record adds weight to the debate over his proposed salary.

What did Hugo Broos say about the change?

Outgoing coach Hugo Broos, who led the team for five years, qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the knockout stages for the first time while also winning an AFCON bronze, issued a warning. He suggested "bringing Mosimane back could set the team back five years." Broos also questioned whether outside coaches and agents would influence team selection under the new management.

What happens next for Bafana Bafana?

With the contract still pending, the immediate focus shifts to the upcoming competitive fixtures. A new coach should be finalizing his squad and tactical approach for the AFCON qualifiers. The team's recent form and World Cup performance, where they finished five points behind group leaders Mexico, provide a clear starting point for the new era. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full squad and upcoming fixtures as the Mosimane saga reaches its conclusion.