Pitso Mosimane has thrown his weight behind Sinethemba Badela following the young coach’s recent dismissal by Durban City, describing him as a rare talent South African football must protect and nurture.
Badela’s stint at Durban City was brief, lasting only a handful of matches before the club opted for a change in direction. The decision raised eyebrows in local football circles, particularly given the high regard in which the 36-year-old tactician is held by many within the game.
Among his admirers is Mosimane — a man whose eye for coaching talent carries significant weight. The former Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly and Al Wahda mentor believes Badela possesses qualities that set him apart from his peers and mark him as one of the brightest young coaching prospects in the country.
Taking to social media platform X, Mosimane did not mince his words.
“This coach is very talented, I see something special in him,” Mosimane wrote.
Beyond mere praise, Mosimane’s message carried a broader appeal to the South African football fraternity.
“South Africa must preserve and nurture its own talent. I spent a full day with him in Bloemfontein, and I was very impressed with him.”
For Mosimane, this is not just about one coach losing a job — it is about the bigger picture of developing and safeguarding local intellectual capital in the dugout.
Read: Short Stay, Sudden Exit: Durban City and Badela Split
Having built a career on long-term vision and technical growth, he understands how fragile coaching careers can be, especially in an environment where patience is often in short supply.
His endorsement of Badela echoes a similar belief he once held in Rhulani Mokwena. Mosimane famously handed Mokwena an opportunity early in his career, backing him in high-pressure environments. Today, Mokwena is flourishing on the continent, currently coaching MC Alger in Algeria and earning respect beyond South Africa’s borders.
The parallel is not accidental. Mosimane sees in Badela the same hunger, tactical curiosity and leadership qualities that once defined a young Mokwena. This is why he is urging stakeholders not to allow short-term results to overshadow long-term potential.
In a football landscape that frequently looks abroad for solutions, Mosimane’s stance is a reminder that South Africa continues to produce sharp, innovative minds capable of competing at the highest level, if given the platform and patience to grow.
Badela’s journey may have suffered a setback, but with figures like Mosimane publicly championing his ability, his story is far from over. If anything, this moment could serve as a turning point — a reminder that true potential is not defined by a single dismissal, but by the belief and backing that follows.