Why Manqoba Mngqithi should be Bafana Bafana’s next coach
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi deserves to be in the conversation when the Bafana Bafana job becomes available.
Image: BackpagePix
Manqoba Mngqithi is one name you will almost likely never hear mentioned in a conversation about the next Bafana Bafana head coach, and that is a narrative that needs to change.
As we all know, Hugo Broos, our beloved Belgian tactician, will call time on his career when Bafana’s World Cup campaign ends, and the South African Football Association will be tasked in finding his successor.
Already, a number of names have been thrown into the hat. There’s Benni McCarthy, the South African football legend currently in charge of the Kenya national team. He has some attributes that tick a few boxes.
There’s Pitso Mosimane, who has been there and has the T-shirt. He’s currently available now and has a CV that should place him near the top. There’s Mosimane’s protégé Rulani Mokwena, who is doing a good job in Algeria.
Broos himself has thrown his weight behind his assistant coach Helman Mkhalele. And according to reports, DR Congo’s Sébastien Desabre has emerged as an early favourite. Under Desabre, DR Congo have reached the Inter-confederation play-offs, and are one step closer to booking their place in next year’s World Cup in North America.
Desabre is a serious contender.
Because of what he’s done in the local game, Mngqithi deserves to be in the conversation.
Mngqithi’s work at Golden Arrows forms the backbone of his reputation as one of South Africa’s most astute coaches. When he first arrived in 2007, he turned a small, under-resourced club into a tactically organised, competitive PSL outfit. Now, after returning this year, he has again restored structure and confidence, tightening their defensive organisation, sharpening transitions and making Arrows a disciplined, hard-to-beat side.
He brings a rare blend of tactical intelligence, adaptability and deep understanding of the South African player profile. At Sundowns, he proved he can shift between different systems while maintaining control and clarity, and he knows how to build around the technical strengths of local players.
Beyond tactics, he is a proven developer of talent with strong man-management skills, earning respect and commanding authority across the league.
When the Bafana job opens after the 2026 World Cup, Mngqithi represents a natural next step. Broos has stabilised the team defensively, but the next coach must bring more ambition, attacking structure and youth integration – areas where Mngqithi excels.
The next Bafana coach must elevate the national team and reconnect it with the best of our football identity. Mngqithi has shown, across different eras and environments, that he has the philosophy and temperament to lead that evolution. Leaving him out of the conversation would be a mistake.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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