Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates will get the first bite to impress newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane when they visit new boys Kruger United in a league encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night. Kick-off is at 7.30.
Three points for Pirates would see them stretch their log lead to 13 points, as they are currently level with Mamelodi Sundowns on 10. Sundowns will themselves meet another set of league new boys when they welcome Milford FC to Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
At Mbombela, it is likely to be a walkover for Pirates, considering the fact that Kruger have so far lost three and drawn one in their opening four league games, conceding seven goals and scoring only two.
The CAF Champions League-bound Buccaneers, on the other hand, are lethal in front of goal and stingy at the back, having netted eight and conceded only one in the league alone.
The appointment of Mosimane, a former Sundowns coach, at SAFA House on Tuesday signals the start of intense competition for Bafana places ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The appointment of Mosimane was delayed by a whole 31 days; his predecessor Hugo Broos left the post on July 31, only for his successor to be officially unveiled on September 1.
Mosimane was endorsed publicly by the SAFA National Executive Committee on August 8, but salary negotiations thereafter stalled his official appointment.
SAFA initially offered him a package of R5 million per annum, and a standoff ensued with his team fighting to match Broos’ R16.8 million annual package.
SAFA eventually doubled their offer, but two more weeks still passed with matters concerning Mosimane’s preferred technical team members.
Mosimane has his work cut out for him, with Bafana starting qualifiers in 25 days when the 2026 FIFA World Cup participants host Guinea on September 26.
In his parting shot, Broos criticised the appointment of Mosimane, saying it will set South African football back five years, as the incoming coach is most likely to work with football agents who will want to influence national call-ups.
