South African national team coach Pitso Mosimane has expressed satisfaction with the spirit of players who arrived for his first camp since taking over as Bafana Bafana coach. Mosimane begins his second stint with the national team, replacing Hugo Broos. The team will play its first two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea. Mosimane announced that his technical team has been completed with the appointment of a quality goalkeeper coach.
Mosimane has appointed Marcus Mashilo as goalkeeper coach, who worked with him as an assistant goalkeeper coach at Mamelodi Sundowns in the late 2010s. Mashilo also filled the No 1 role at Lamontville Golden Arrows. Mosimane pointed out that Mashilo may not be a big name in his profession but has a solid track record. Mashilo will also assist new Bafana analyst Musi Matlaba. Mosimane has become known for assembling qualified coaches to provide expert backroom research, conditioning, and coaching.
Mosimane began his job back with the national team in earnest at the University of Johannesburg’s sports fields in Brixton on Monday. Before the session, he held a press conference exuding quiet confidence. The squad assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday, and Mosimane had all his locally based and some foreign-based players at training on Monday. The rest of the international brigade are expected to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Former Botswana head coach Morena Ramoreboli is Mosimane’s assistant, while his long-time travelling boffins Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoaga (conditioning coach) have already been appointed to the coach’s Bafana staff. Mosimane said, “The technical team is complete now — we’ve got Marcus Mashilo to help us as goalkeeper coach.” Mashilo has experience working with top players and has contributed to numerous trophies.
Mashilo replaces former Manning Rangers and Orlando Pirates keeper Grant Johnson, who worked as goalkeeper coach for Broos, including at this year’s 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America. Mosimane was pleased that his local and foreign contingent seem scheduled to arrive on time. “We have all the local-based players in camp. Everybody reported yesterday, no issues,” he said.
Mosimane expressed satisfaction with the players' attitude, saying, “I feel good because I see the boys have respect for the emblem and for the flag. It’s always good when you come on day one to the office and the boys are there and all on time.” He also mentioned that forward Luther Singh and right-back Samukele Kabini had arrived as part of the foreign-based contingent.
The rest of the foreign-based players, including Olwethu Makhanya, Ime Okon, Sphephelo Sithole, Relebohile Mofokeng, Shandre Campbell, Thapelo Maseko, Puso Dithejane, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, are set to arrive in the next two days. Mosimane said, “Of course, among the overseas-based players, some were playing yesterday [Sunday]. Some, like Puso, you know where they had to travel from; it’s far, two or three flights. We expect them all here.”
Key points
- Pitso Mosimane has appointed Marcus Mashilo as goalkeeper coach for Bafana Bafana.
- Mosimane's technical team is complete ahead of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- The team has assembled for training, with all local-based players reporting on time.
