Safa Must Respect Pitso Mosimane and South African Coaching Talent

Tebogo Mashilompane
National Leader of Forum for South Africa

By Tebogo Mashilompane
National leader Forum for South Africa (Forum4SA)

Forum for South Africa (Forum4SA) condemns what we regard as a deeply disrespectful approach by the South African Football Association (SAFA) towards one of South Africa’s most accomplished football coaches, Pitso Mosimane.

Reports that SAFA initially offered Mosimane approximately R5 million per year about R416,000 per month are deeply concerning, particularly when compared with the reported remuneration of former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, which was around R1.4–R1.5 million per month.

Pitso Mosimane is not an ordinary coach. He is a South African football legend who has won the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly and has built an international reputation as one of Africa’s leading coaches.

Forum for South Africa believes that a South African coach of Mosimane’s stature must never be valued below what was paid to his predecessor.

We therefore call on SAFA to negotiate with Mosimane in good faith and offer him a package that reflects his experience, achievements, qualifications and international standing.

We are pleased that reports indicate SAFA has now increased its initial offer, but the principle remains important: South African talent must be respected and properly valued in our own country.

We cannot continue to undervalue South Africans while paying international coaches substantially more.

Forum for South Africa calls on SAFA to:

-Give Pitso Mosimane a remuneration package that reflects his stature and achievements.

-Ensure that South African coaches are not treated as cheaper alternatives simply because they are South African.

-Adopt transparent and fair remuneration principles for national-team coaches.

-Put the interests and dignity of South African football first.

Pitso Mosimane deserves respect.

South African coaches deserve respect.

Bafana Bafana deserves the best leadership we can provide.