Pitso Impasse: Ntseki Provides Possible Relief
With the search for Hugo Broos’ successor still unresolved, SAFA could turn to a familiar face to guide Bafana Bafana through the opening phase of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Molefi Ntseki, currently serving as the South African Football Association’s technical director, has reportedly emerged as a possible short-term solution should the association fail to finalise the appointment of a permanent head coach in time.
The possibility would see Ntseki return to the Bafana hot seat more than five years after his previous spell in charge.
Ntseki already knows the national-team setup
Ntseki has spent much of his coaching career within South Africa’s national-team structures, working with various junior sides before eventually being handed the senior job.
He took over from Stuart Baxter in 2019 and was later confirmed as Bafana’s permanent head coach.
His tenure produced four wins, two draws and three defeats from nine matches, with Bafana scoring 12 goals and conceding 11.
However, his time in charge ended after South Africa failed to qualify for the 2021 AFCON. A 2-0 defeat to Sudan in March 2021 proved to be his final match as Bafana coach.
Ntseki subsequently returned to technical and developmental roles, including a stint within the Kaizer Chiefs structure, before taking up a senior technical position at SAFA.
That background could make him an attractive option if the association needs someone capable of stepping in without a lengthy transition period.
SAFA facing a coaching dilemma
The timing of the uncertainty is particularly important.
Bafana are coming off their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, and SAFA will be keen to ensure that the momentum generated by that achievement carries into the next international cycle.
The association has been working on appointing Broos’ successor, with Pitso Mosimane widely reported as the preferred candidate.
However, with the process taking longer than expected, the possibility of an interim appointment cannot be ruled out.
Should SAFA decide that it needs a temporary solution, Ntseki would offer continuity while the association works towards a permanent appointment.
A second chance for Ntseki?
For Ntseki, another spell in charge would provide an opportunity to rewrite the story of his first tenure.
Unlike in 2019, he would return with extensive experience in South Africa’s football structures and a deeper understanding of the national-team environment.
The immediate challenge would be to guide Bafana through the opening AFCON qualifiers without disrupting the progress made under Broos.
Whether Ntseki actually gets the call will depend on how quickly SAFA can resolve the permanent coaching situation. But with competitive football approaching, the technical director’s name is increasingly relevant as the association weighs its options.
