EXCLUSIVE | Letsoaka urges Safa to retain Broos in advisory role for smooth Bafana Bafana transition

Revered football coach and former Bafana Bafana assistant Serame Letsoaka has advised Safa to retain Hugo Broos in an advisory capacity over the next few months to ensure a smooth handover and transition to his successor.

Broos’ contract officially concluded following Bafana’s elimination from the ongoing Fifa World Cup in North America, where he achieved a historic knockout-stage qualification for the first time in the country's four tournament appearances. 

Given that milestone and his other successes, Broos is widely regarded as one of Bafana’s finest-ever coaches, drawing comparisons to the late Clive Barker, who won the 1996 Afcon and secured South Africa's first-ever World Cup qualification in 1998.

Broos’ foundation was largely built on doing things his way. He rewarded discipline and club form, completely tuning out the influence of clubs, agents, supporters, and media. Amid the strong bond he forged with the team and the country, Broos admitted it would be difficult to simply walk away, return to Belgium to reunite with his family, and head straight into retirement.

However, while he may be open to a less demanding role like an advisory position, Broos has clarified that he will not dictate terms to the incoming coach, who should be equipped to run the team as they see fit.

Speaking exclusively to Independent Media on Saturday, Letsoaka – who served as a Bafana assistant under Gordon Igesund between 2012 and 2014 – supported Broos’ suggestion, noting that it would aid the team's progression and continuity.

“If he leaves, make him something like a sporting director for two or three months,” Letsoaka said. “It’s not to tell the new coach what to do, but there must be some form of handover, even though the new coach will have his own ideas.

“The biggest problem in our country is that we always start from scratch. We never acknowledge the foundations that have already been built. A new coach might come in with his own backroom staff, meaning the current staff may have to leave their positions. In my honest opinion, let’s continue with some of the people who are already there.”

One person Letsoaka believes must remain under the new regime is current assistant Helman Mkhalele – a candidate Broos has publicly endorsed to succeed him for the sake of continuity.

“Helman must continue to be there,” Letsoaka added. “He has built a good bond with the players and the team. When the next coach comes in, Helman can ensure the bridge between the players and the new coach isn't too wide. Instead, it will be a bridge they can cross much quicker.

“The Afcon qualifiers are coming up. If you bring in a completely new coach with entirely new people, you are starting from scratch. And when that new coach doesn’t do well, we just blame the coaches all over again.”

Pitso Mosimane – whom Letsoaka’s former superior,  Igesund, succeeded after a disappointing initial spell years ago – has been heavily linked with the national team job after Safa confirmed he submitted his resume for review.

While Letsoaka remains on the fence about exactly who should replace Broos, noting that the track records of candidates like Mosimane, Manqoba Mngqithi, and Steve Komphela speak for themselves, he did highlight two crucial credentials the successor must possess.

“We want someone with a very strong personality. You cannot be a national team coach if you lack that,” Letsoaka concluded. 

“Should they decide to hire a South African, in my honest opinion, that will be helpful. But should they decide to bring in a European or someone from outside, they must remember one thing: I don’t recall a World Cup ever being won by a foreign coach anywhere in the world.”