The man with ‘no filter’: The second coming of Pitso Mosimane to Bafana Bafana

Pitso Mosimane believes that he is the best. That’s why he has achieved so much. He’s never swayed by critics or the noise of the supporters.

Pitso Mosimane has returned to coach Bafana Bafana, 14 years after his first stint as the boss of the senior national men’s team ended not long after a failed 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying attempt. The team embarrassingly celebrated as if they had qualified, only to discover that they had not done enough.

Bafana played their final qualifier against Sierra Leone in October 2011, resulting in a 0-0 stalemate. Mosimane and his players believed that finishing tied on points with Niger and holding a superior goal difference meant they had qualified.

But Confederation of African Football rules dictated that head-to-head records between the tied teams took precedence over overall goal difference. Because Niger held the better head-to-head record, Bafana Bafana were eliminated.

Mosimane has expanded his CV extensively since then, becoming one of Africa’s all-time coaching greats. In his second coming as Bafana Bafana coach, he succeeds Belgian Hugo Broos, who departed in July after a memorable five years in South Africa.

Broos was appointed in 2021. He transformed Bafana Bafana by instilling discipline, self-belief and a winning mentality that led to the team qualifying for successive Afcons. This may seem like a basic achievement, but before Broos no coach had managed it.

In 2026, the Belgian took the men’s senior national team to their first World Cup since the 2010 edition. It was the highlight of his time in South Africa.

He also guided Bafana Bafana to a third-place finish at the 2023 Afcon. Their last Afcon podium finish was bronze in 2000.

“Way before I was appointed, I have praised coach Hugo Broos for what he has done,” Mosimane said.

“He has laid a very good foundation for us; he has done exceptionally well. I appreciate the work that he has done, which we all know.”

He said: “The main focus [for my team and me] is for Bafana Bafana to qualify for the next Afcon. It’s important for Bafana Bafana to go back to the World Cup. Those are the major points we have to fulfil.”

Much like Broos, Mosimane brings an abundance of self-confidence. He also speaks his mind. Or in the slang of the current generation, Mosimane “has no filter”. When he is happy, he expresses it. The same is true when he is unhappy.

However, he has also matured greatly since he was last in charge of the national team.

After eight successful years at Mamelodi Sundowns, from 2012 to 2020, Mosimane joined Al Ahly where he led the African heavyweights to three African Champions League finals on the trot, winning two. This added to his first Champions League title, which he won with Sundowns in 2016.