JOHANNESBURG – At the moment, Pitso Mosimane has no desire to coach Bafana Bafana. Mosimane is one of the four invited coaches - which includes Aliou Cisse (Senegal national team coach), Florent Ibenge (DRC national team coach) and Hassan Shehata (Egypt legend) - who are currently undergoing their Caf Pro License course in Morocco.
However, even though he is on a verge of becoming the most qualified coach in the country, Mosimane is not fazed by Bafana's hot seat. Instead, he's urged the fraternity to back Stuart Baxter who's currently faulted by many saying he's delayed Bafana's 2019 Afcon qualification spot by a return-leg goalless draw to minnows Seychelles.
"We've got a good coach in Stuart Baxter, so we need to support him,"Mosimane said. "I see that Gavin Hunt (Bidvest Wits' coach) also supports him. This is a national agenda, it's not Pitso or Hunt's, because we all want to go to Cameroon where 2019 Afcon will be hosted. So let's help the team go there. We've got a big chance against Libya, so let's support the coach."
The current Mamelodi Sundowns coach has enjoyed a six-year fruitful stint with the Brazilians since he's failed tenure with the national team. His four-year contract with Bafana was trimmed down to two after failing to qualify for the 2012 Afcon which was co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Mosimane has enjoyed a six-year fruitful stint with the Brazilians since he's failed tenure with the national team. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
"There's not jealously between me and Stuart, because I talk to him. After all, we have our jobs,"Mosimane said. "I mean we should tread carefully when talking about Bafana because when Bafana is not doing very well, I am also asked. While I was in Morocco, Cisse asked me why I don't coach Bafana but I told him that I was there and they told me that I am not good (enough)."
Fast track to six seasons later, and Mosimane is arguably the most successful coach in club level in the country. After conquering African football in 2016, the only trophy that has eluded his cabinet is the MTN8. While his recognition goes as far as winning the 2016 Caf Coach of the Year.
Mosimane is far from taking the solo credit. He is adamant that he's just a front of his technical team's hard work. But with the recent rotation of goalkeeper coaches at Bafana, Mosimane refused to put his back against the wall and tip his goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson as qualified enough to have been considered for the job.
"I don't know, it's not my call but I am happy with him here," Mosimane said as he responded to whether Robinson should have got the Bafana post or not.
"He's got all the qualifications and he's a level three coach. Denis (Onyango, their number one goalie) is doing well here but remember Itu (Khune, Kaizer Chiefs' goalie) is also doing well so probably everything is done right."
Mosimane: There's not jealously between me and Stuart, because I talk to him. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix
"I am at peace with my technical team being here because when I am in Morocco after ever seven weeks they must stay and look after the team. Maybe when I am done with my Caf Pro License they can relieve them," he added.