“Look At Ancelotti”: Mosimane Defends Technical Team Overhaul And Mkhalele Snub
Newly appointed Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has opened up about his decision not to retain Helman Mkhalele as his assistant coach, insisting that every manager must surround themselves with trusted technical partners.
Mkhalele, who served as assistant under former boss Hugo Broos, will not form part of the new backroom staff. Instead, Mosimane has brought back long-time collaborators Muzi Matlaba as performance analyst and Kabelo Rangoaga as fitness coach, emphasizing that both have evolved into fully qualified coaches.
Mosimane revealed that he is actively searching for an assistant coach, though finding the right candidate has proven difficult because his primary targets remain under contract elsewhere.
Mkhalele’s omission raised eyebrows in some quarters, given his past professional link to Mosimane’s wife and agent, Moira Tlhagale, who previously represented the former Bafana winger.
Tlhagale was present at SAFA House on Tuesday for Mosimane’s official unveiling alongside Matlaba and Rangoaga.
“Everyone and every coach has his own technical team, right? And I always want to refer to practical questions,” said Mosimane.
“And I’ll tell you about Ancelotti. You know who he takes with him? He takes his son [Davide]. And they have won a lot of trophies.”
Davide Ancelotti served as assistant under his father at Real Madrid, winning three UEFA Champions League titles in 2014, 2022, and 2024 before recently taking the head coaching job at French club Lille.
“If I had my son next to me here in South Africa instead of…I think you would be saying some other things,” continued Mosimane.
“He’s got his son and they have won trophies, right? And the world is not looking at Ancelotti and his son, right? It’s looking at the work to be done.
“So, for us, it’s the work done, right? And I have people that have done FIFA World Cup with me here. Four of them.
“And it’s the people who understand the way I work, the way we work. We work differently. From South Africa, on the continent, even beyond the continent and beyond the borders of the continent.
“So, I have people that I think can support me. And, yeah, I think I’m giving you the right answer.”
Meanwhile, Mosimane confirmed that following Bafana Bafana’s opening 2027 AFCON qualifiers—against Guinea on September 23 in South Africa and Eritrea four days later in Egypt—the national team will schedule an international friendly to grant fringe players valuable game time.
