For the first time in 25 years, Pitso Mosimane is without a football
club. Since his abrupt departure from Iranian side Esteghlal over unpaid
salaries in January 2025, South Africa’s most decorated modern coach has
been on the sidelines—a full year that marks his longest period of
inactivity since the turn of the century.
While his name continues to surface in connection with high-profile club
vacancies—including nostalgic links to Mamelodi Sundowns and persistent
rumors around Kaizer Chiefs—the most compelling, and perhaps logical, next
chapter lies elsewhere. The imminent departure of Hugo Broos from the Bafana
Bafana helm after the 2026 FIFA World Cup has ignited widespread
speculation: is Mosimane strategically biding his time for a return to the
national team?
His previous tenure with Bafana ended under a cloud in 2014, but the
narrative surrounding “Jingles” has been utterly transformed by his
subsequent success. Historic back-to-back CAF Champions League titles with
Al Ahly, a domestic treble with Sundowns, and successful projects in the
Middle East have not only burnished his CV but have reshaped public
perception. What was once seen as a concluded chapter is now widely viewed
as unfinished business.
This extended break is unprecedented in Mosimane’s relentless career. It
invites the question: is this a calculated pause? Is the coach, now armed
with unparalleled continental experience and a global profile, positioning
himself for a definitive, redemptive run with the national team? The coming
months will reveal whether this hiatus is merely a transition or a
deliberate strategy to reclaim the reins of South African football on his
own terms.
