SuperSport United coach Pitso Mosimane, lumped with the job of guiding the Bafana Bafana team in the friendly international against Namibia in Windhoek on Wednesday August 16, sees his role as that of a short-term troubleshooter — and he hopes he does not get shot in the process.
”South African Football Association [Safa] CEO Raymond Hack asked me to take charge of the national team for this game,” said the straight-talking Mosimane on Wednesday, ”and it is a duty I will readily accept to help my country at this tricky time for Bafana — even though it might be construed as disruptive in preparing SuperSport for the start of the new PSL season.”
Mosimane said his objectives were clear-cut and to the point. ”I intend piecing together the strongest-possible squad I can muster for what must be considered a valuable warm-up for the important African Nations Cup qualifier against Congo in Brazzaville early in September.
”In this way,” he added, ”I hope to do the groundwork for the new Bafana coach, who it is seemingly planned will be in harness by then. If anything changes, I’m not thinking about it right now.”
In line with his proclaimed intentions, Mosimane said he would ”certainly” scour the overseas market before selecting his Bafana squad. ”Players like Benni McCarthy, Aaron Mokoena, Sibusiso Zuma and such-like will certainly be candidates because we need them.”
”And it’s a date earmarked by Fifa for international matches and all the players will be required to make themselves available.”
Mosimane pointed out that when he was last in charge of Bafana a couple of months ago for Cosafa Cup games, he was landed with a hopelessly depleted squad.
”None of the overseas-based players were available and Kaizer Chiefs were playing Orlando Pirates in the Absa Cup Final on the same dates. It’s a situation I don’t want to find myself in again.” — Sapa