Former Bafana Bafana player Hlompho Kekana has defended coach Pitso Mosimane against criticism regarding his comments on Oswin Appollis' playing style. Mosimane recently stated that players need to adapt to the national team's approach, citing Appollis as an example. Kekana believes Mosimane was misunderstood and that his remarks were not meant to be critical of Appollis' abilities. Mosimane started his second tenure with Bafana on a high, beating Guinea 2-1 in their opening 2027 Afcon qualifier.
Mosimane's comments raised eyebrows among some observers, who argued that he remains biased towards Mamelodi Sundowns, a team he previously coached. Kekana, who won several trophies under Mosimane at Sundowns, including the CAF Champions League, defended his former mentor. He stated that Mosimane's challenge was with his articulation in English and that players must be flexible enough to understand the national team's requirements. Kekana emphasized that Mosimane wants players to be able to play different roles.
Appollis started his second game under Mosimane in the 5-0 thrashing of Eritrea, delivering a composed and polished performance. The attacker assisted three of the five goals and earned praise from Mosimane alongside Relebohile Mofokeng for their displays. Kekana further elaborated on why he felt Mosimane was misunderstood, citing Appollis' ability to move from a winger to the No 10 role as an example. He stated that Mosimane wants players to have freedom as wingers, not to be restricted to the line.
Kekana played under Mosimane at Sundowns and recalled his coach's use of the term "travel." He explained that Mosimane wanted players like Themba Zwane, a winger, to be able to move freely and not be stuck on the touchline. Kekana believes that Mosimane's comments were not meant to be critical of Appollis' abilities, but rather to emphasize the importance of flexibility in the national team. He encouraged people to listen to Mosimane's comments again, slowly, to understand his point.
Mosimane's comments were made in the context of Bafana Bafana's 2027 Afcon qualifier against Guinea, which they won 2-1. The team maintained top spot in Group D after two rounds, following their 5-0 thrashing of Eritrea. Mosimane praised Appollis and Mofokeng for their displays in the match. Kekana's defense of Mosimane comes amid criticism that the coach remains biased towards Sundowns.
Kekana's comments were made at the finals of the 2026 Kay Motsepe Schools Championship in Soshanguve. He won a haul of trophies at Sundowns under Mosimane and was a member of the team that won the CAF Champions League. Kekana's support for Mosimane is significant, given his experience playing under the coach. He emphasized that Mosimane wants players to be flexible and able to play different roles.
The controversy surrounding Mosimane's comments highlights the challenges of communication and interpretation in football. Kekana's defense of Mosimane emphasizes the importance of understanding the coach's intentions and the need for players to be flexible in the national team. The incident also raises questions about the role of the media in interpreting and reporting on coaches' comments.
Key points
- Hlompho Kekana defends Pitso Mosimane's comments on Oswin Appollis' playing style.
- Mosimane wants players to be flexible and able to play different roles in the national team.
- Kekana played under Mosimane at Sundowns and won several trophies, including the CAF Champions League.
