{"id":32900,"date":"2025-10-23T14:36:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=32900"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:44:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:44:33","slug":"who-should-replace-hugo-broos-as-bafana-bafana-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/who-should-replace-hugo-broos-as-bafana-bafana-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Should Replace Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana Coach?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has already set his sights on who he believes should succeed him once his tenure comes to an end after the 2026 FIFA World Cup \u2013 and his choice is clear: Helman \u201cMidnight Express\u201d Mkhalele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-trusted-right-hand-man\">A Trusted Right-Hand Man<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mkhalele has served as Broos\u2019s assistant since the Belgian tactician took over in 2021. Over the past three years, the pair have built a strong partnership that has helped revive national pride in Bafana Bafana. Under their guidance, the national team finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and qualified for both the upcoming AFCON in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Broos believes continuity will be key to maintaining this momentum. Speaking to the media in Johannesburg, he said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI think the best thing would be if Helman becomes coach after me. Then you\u2019re following up with the same thing. The way of working and the philosophy will stay the same. There will be a bit more of an African touch \u2013 I am European \u2013 but Helman thinks 95% the same as me, which is why I\u2019m so happy with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-49223327\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-qualification-challenge\">The Qualification Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>However, one obstacle stands in the way of Broos\u2019s preferred successor. Mkhalele currently lacks the CAF or UEFA Pro License required to officially take charge of the national team. Broos was quick to acknowledge this challenge, urging SAFA to plan accordingly: \u201cThe only problem is that Helman doesn\u2019t have the qualification. But that can be avoided if he goes on a course for the pro license. SAFA has to think about what kind of coach they want. That\u2019s not my job, but it\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Mkhalele completes the necessary coaching qualifications in time, he could be in pole position to step into the role and ensure stability within the Bafana setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The South African Football Association celebrated Bafana Bafana\u2019s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SAFA House today. Coach Hugo Broos, his assistant Helman Mkhalele and team manager Vincent Tseka received the goodies  on behalf of the team.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BafanaPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#BafanaPride<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SABC_Sport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@SABC_Sport<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4IXe3Oyr63\">pic.twitter.com\/4IXe3Oyr63<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BafanaBafana\/status\/1980692365284094306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 21, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-mkhalele-makes-sense\">Why Mkhalele Makes Sense<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana winger brings a unique advantage \u2013 he understands the culture, mentality, and challenges of South African footballers. Having been part of the generation that represented the country during its golden years in the late 1990s, Mkhalele\u2019s experience both as a player and as a coach provides him with valuable insight into what it takes to succeed on the international stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, he has earned the trust of the current squad. His familiarity with the team\u2019s system, discipline, and tactical approach under Broos would allow for a smooth transition without disrupting the progress made over the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2550620922\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-broos-ready-to-call-time-on-coaching\">Broos Ready to Call Time on Coaching<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Broos has made it clear that his retirement after the 2026 World Cup is final. \u201cEveryone knows I will stop after the World Cup because of my age,\u201d he admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s not because I don\u2019t want to be here anymore. If I was ten years younger, I\u2019d stay for another two years. But I\u2019ll be 74, and it\u2019s time to go home to my family. They\u2019ve made sacrifices for me to focus on my career, and now it\u2019s time to focus on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-future-built-on-continuity\">A Future Built on Continuity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Bafana Bafana prepares for another busy period of international fixtures, the question of succession is becoming increasingly important. For Broos, the answer lies in continuity rather than change. With Mkhalele already deeply involved in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/soccer\/broos-reveals-who-replace-bafana-coach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national team\u2019s setup<\/a>, his appointment could provide the stability and local flair that the side needs to continue its upward trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If SAFA acts early to help Mkhalele secure his coaching credentials, Broos\u2019s vision of a seamless handover might just ensure Bafana Bafana remains competitive long after the Belgian\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/bafana-coach-hugo-broos-to-retire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bafana Coach Hugo Broos Announces Retirement After National Team Tenure<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has already set his sights on who he believes should succeed him once his tenure comes to an end after the 2026 FIFA World Cup \u2013 and his choice is clear: Helman \u201cMidnight Express\u201d Mkhalele. A Trusted Right-Hand Man Mkhalele has served as Broos\u2019s assistant since the Belgian tactician<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":32901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has already set his sights on who he believes should succeed him once his tenure comes to an end after the 2026 FIFA World...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[286,2697,11108,288],"class_list":{"0":"post-32900","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news","9":"tag-bafana-bafana","10":"tag-hugo-broos","11":"tag-latest-sports-news","12":"tag-soccer"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32900"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32902,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32900\/revisions\/32902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}