Jomo Sono has thrown his support behind Pitso Mosimane following his return as Bafana Bafana head coach, while revealing why he believes the veteran coach was right to reject SAFA’s reported initial R5 million offer.
Mosimane is back in charge of the national team for a second spell, more than a decade after his first stint ended in 2012.
The appointment has been welcomed by Sono, who knows Mosimane both as a former teammate and as a coach. The Orlando Pirates legend praised his former colleague’s work ethic, achievements and straightforward personality.
“I was really proud and I have been really proud of his achievements as a footballer, coach and as an international coach. He came a long way and Pitso is a hard worker,” Sono said during an interview with Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000.
‘Sometimes arrogance helps’
Sono also addressed the reputation Mosimane has developed for being outspoken, suggesting that his strong personality can actually be an advantage in South African football.
“Some say he’s arrogant, he took it from me, but in South African football, sometimes arrogance helps,” Sono said.
“He tells it like it is. A no is a no and a yes is a yes.”
But it was Sono’s comments about Mosimane’s salary negotiations that generated the biggest talking point.
Why Pitso rejected the reported R5m offer
Reports indicated that SAFA initially offered Mosimane R5 million, an amount he reportedly rejected before lengthy negotiations eventually resulted in an agreement worth R15 million.
Sono said Mosimane would never have accepted the lower figure after knowing what his predecessor, Hugo Broos, reportedly earned.
“I knew that Pitso would never take R5 million when he knew that Broos got R15 million. Even I, I wouldn’t take it,” Sono said.
“I would say, ‘No, I don’t want it. I want the same as the white man.’”
Sono added that Mosimane was not the only South African coach to have received what he regarded as an inadequate offer from SAFA.
Sono’s advice to Mosimane
With Mosimane now preparing for his second chapter with Bafana, Sono believes the new coach should resist the temptation to make wholesale changes.
Bafana are due back in action later this month in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, leaving Mosimane with limited preparation time.
For that reason, Sono believes continuity should be the priority.
“He has to play the team that featured in the World Cup. He must not introduce new players and build. He is playing now in three weeks’ time,” Sono advised.
“He must select the players who played in the World Cup and add one or two players. They know each other.”
The message from the South African football icon is clear: Mosimane already has a foundation to work with, and with little time before the next competitive fixtures, continuity could be more valuable than a major squad overhaul.
For Mosimane, the challenge now is to make the most of his return — while carrying the expectations that come with one of the biggest coaching jobs in South African football.
