Jackie Phamotse's Tweet About Pitso Mosimane's Media Style Divides Mzansi
- South African author Jackie Phamotse posted on X that Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane needs to polish his media training
- The tweet arrived shortly after Bafana beat Eritrea 5-0 in Cairo, with Mosimane's comments about Appollis and Modiba already circulating
- Several fans pushed back on Phamotse's view, arguing Mosimane's blunt communication style is simply who he is
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Author and social commentator Jackie Phamotse has stirred up debate in South African football circles after questioning Pitso Mosimane's media approach. Her brief post on X caught fire just as Bafana Bafana were riding high on a dominant result in Cairo.
Phamotse, widely known for her BARE book series, is no stranger to sparking conversation. Her second novel, BARE II: The Cradle of The Hockey Club, took home the 2020 South African Book Award for Best Fiction, and she regularly uses her social media platform to weigh in on topics ranging from business to sport.
On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, she wrote: "Coach Pitso really needs to polish his media training."
She did not point to a specific press conference or interview in her post, leaving followers to speculate about what prompted the remark.
What Sparked the Conversation
The timing of Phamotse's post raised eyebrows. Bafana had just hammered Eritrea 5-0 at Cairo's Al Salam Stadium in their second 2027 AFCON Group D qualifier, with Relebohile Mofokeng grabbing a brace and Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh also getting on the scoresheet.
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Before that, Mosimane's comments following Bafana's 2-1 win over Guinea on 26 September had been circulating. The coach had explained that he wanted Aubrey Modiba to push into a No. 10 role when South Africa had the ball, with Oswin Appollis shifting wider to create space.
Mosimane pointed out that Appollis operates more centrally at Orlando Pirates but said adjustments are necessary at international level:
"This is the national team. He has to accommodate Modiba."
Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo stepped in to defend Mosimane amid the reaction to those tactical remarks. Whether Phamotse's tweet was directed at that specific exchange or something else entirely remains unclear.
Mzansi defends Pitso
Rather than piling on Mosimane, many of Phamotse's followers used her post as a springboard to champion the coach's personality. Manzini Zungu questioned whether softening Mosimane's communication style would only make him seem "meek," to which Phamotse replied: "Very true😂😂"
Dr Great LM argued that the public should adapt to Mosimane's manner of speaking instead of expecting him to change. John PC May drew a comparison with Steve Komphela's more elaborate speaking style, while Black Diamond insisted Mosimane should be free to express himself on his own terms.
The conversation ultimately shifted from criticism to a broader discussion about whether Pitso's directness is a flaw or simply the coach being unapologetically himself.
Results-wise, Mosimane has given his detractors little ammunition. His second stint in charge began with a 2-1 victory at Orlando Stadium before the emphatic win in Egypt. South Africa sit on six points from two matches, having scored seven goals and conceded just one. Bafana's next assignment is an international friendly against Egypt on 4 October 2026.
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Source: Briefly News
