Former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has praised the tactical master class of coach Hugo Broos while pointing out to some individual brilliances that won the game against South Korea.
While Bafana performed well as a team, some of the outstanding individual performances couldn’t go unnoticed, including Siphephelo Sithole’s mental resilience.
Mosimane, who currently enjoys his time without a club after his last stint in Iran with Esteghlal FC in 2025, sang praises after Bafana’s victory. Many have tipped the three-time Caf Champions League winner as next in the Bafana dugout.
Jingles took some time to analyse Broos’ victory against the Korean on Thursday and pointed out the outstanding moments of the game.
“You know, this game was a tactical masterclass, while also showing humility and respect, and responding to the critics who have been around the shape we played and how we started was corrected by the coach,” said Mosimane on his Smash Sport.
“He (Broos) has built this team now, coming up, and we went to the shape that we have always been playing, and maybe that’s what the country has been crying out so much.
READ: FIFA World Cup: Bafana Bafana Set for Canada Showdown After Historic World Cup Breakthrough
“But he is human, and he is an experienced coach. He responded well and was not arrogant. Like starting with Rele (Mofokeng) in midfield, having Appollis on the right, having Thapelo Maseko, and the striker.”
But the master of them all, on the tactics, was Mbatha. When he is in the game, you don’t see him much when he is playing, but when he is not playing, then you say, ‘Oh, he could’ve been there, right?’,” said the 61-year-old coach.
Sithole’s comeback performance was not spared from praise by the experienced mentor. The FC Tondela midfielder dropped a stinker against Mexico that ended with a red card just after halftime.
“I want to give credit to the mental strength and resilience of Yaya (Sithole), to say, ‘Okay, you saw what happened. I came from a red card; they stole the ball from me,” said Mosimane.
“But guess what? He was still coming to the same positions to receive the ball and play with no fear. That shows his experience, that he is mentally strong, and he made us play.”
Bafana face off with Canada in Los Angeles in the Round of 32 on Sunday.
Written by Sizwe Ntshololo