South African coach Pitso Mosimane recently shed light on the hurdles faced by African coaches in European football — a sentiment echoed by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
A pioneer in his own right, Mosimane made history in 2020 by becoming the first Sub-Saharan coach to coach Al Ahly, breaking new ground in both the Middle East and Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli Saudi FC, followed by a stint in the United Arab Emirates at Al Wahda FC.
Currently unattached after parting ways with Al Wahda, Mosimane remains open to coaching globally. However, he highlighted a lingering stigma around African coaches in Europe, pointing out the importance of UEFA Pro licenses in breaking through these barriers.
Meanwhile, optimism surrounds Rulani Mokwena, coach of the DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns, with widespread belief that his early successes make him a contender for coaching roles in Europe. Broos acknowledged Mokwena’s potential but emphasized the necessity of obtaining a UEFA Pro license, the highest coaching qualification in football.
Broos praised Mokwena’s dedication to the game, stating on PrimeSportsWithMahlatse YouTube Channel: “I think he’s a guy who learns, who reads many things about football, contacts coaches to talk about football, he wants to progress in his profession.” The Bafana coach expressed hope that Mokwena, alongside Mosimane, secures the coveted UEFA Pro license, enhancing their prospects in the European coaching landscape.
Responding to Mosimane’s claim about European reluctance towards African coaches, Broos clarified, “It’s not about that, it’s about your license, and if you don’t have the UEFA Pro license, you don’t enter into Europe as a coach.”
While acknowledging the challenges, Mosimane has already made history by becoming the first South African coach to attain a CAF Pro License, the highest qualification in African football. This accomplishment is deemed equivalent to a UEFA Pro License, positioning Mosimane as an eligible candidate for coaching roles across the globe.
