Owen da Gama Says Pitso Mosimane Is Being Judged Differently From Hugo Broos
- Pitso Mosimane has already faced questions after returning to the Bafana Bafana hot seat, but one former coach sees things differently
- Owen Da Gama has drawn attention to the contrasting treatment of Pitso Mosimane and Hugo Broos as the new Bafana era gets underway
- The debate around Pitso Mosimane’s return has taken another turn after Owen Da Gama highlighted what supporters may have overlooked previously
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Former Bafana Bafana coach Owen da Gama believes Pitso Mosimane is being judged more harshly than Hugo Broos, arguing that the South African coach should receive the same opportunity to implement his ideas.
Mosimane returned to the Bafana dugout on 26 September 2026 and began his third spell in charge with a 2-1 victory over Guinea in the opening AFCON 2027 qualifier.
The result came less than two months after Broos' departure. The Belgian coach left at the end of July following more than five years in charge, during which Bafana qualified for back-to-back AFCON tournaments and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Da Gama believes contrast matters when assessing Mosimane's early decisions.
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“I just feel sometimes we are being unfair to Pitso because he’s a South African,” Da Gama told KickOff.
“There are a lot of other things Hugo Broos did and changes he made that people overlooked. We need to understand that Pitso has got to do things his way. He needs a chance. I mean, it was his first game.”
Why Da Gama says Broos got more patience
Mosimane has faced questions over his selections, tactics and perceived preference for players and ideas associated with Mamelodi Sundowns. Da Gama said criticism is part of the job, but believes it should be measured.
“We can't criticise everything he says or does,” he said. “Yes, there are questions that have got to be asked, but they have got to be constructive and objective.”
There was also evidence that Mosimane did not radically overhaul the team immediately. Bafana's starting XI against Guinea contained only three changes from the side that faced Canada in Broos' final match.
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Pitso Mosimane given a different challenge
Da Gama also pointed to the contrasting football cultures within South Africa's leading clubs.
“There are different coaches at Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, and they all play different types of football,” he said.
Mosimane will now have little time to settle into his latest Bafana Bafana role, with the clash against Eritrea in Cairo coming just days after his winning return against Guinea.
For Da Gama, however, the focus should remain on allowing the coach to establish his methods rather than judging every decision immediately. He also stressed the connection between Mosimane and the national team.
“He is one of our own,” Da Gama said.
The former coach’s argument centres on whether Mosimane will be given enough time to shape Bafana in his own image, particularly when compared with the patience afforded to Broos during his tenure.
Pitso Mosimane responds to Guinea coach’s Bafana claim
Briefly News previously reported that Guinea coach Paulo Duarte had high praise for Bafana Bafana after their 2-1 AFCON 2027 qualifying victory. Duarte placed South Africa among Africa’s leading sides alongside Morocco and Senegal.
Pitso Mosimane responded to the assessment, but his reaction suggested he wasn't getting carried away by the praise.
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Source: Briefly News
