Desabre emerges as top candidate to replace Broos as Bafana coach

IT’S well known that the curtain will come down on Hugo Broos’ Bafana stint after the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America.

- MIHLALI BALEKA.

And so, with barely a few months before that happens, the question remains: who will succeed the silver-haired Belgian and build on the foundation he has laid during his five-year spell with Bafana? Well, that remains to be seen.

If it were up to him, Broos would hand over the baton to his right-hand man Helman Mkhalele, who has experience, knows South African football with its pros and cons, and is familiar with the ins and outs of the team after being part of Broos’ backroom staff from day one.

But it’s not in Broos’ hands, nor those of the association, Safa, to appoint Mkhalele as the new Bafana coach in winter. Mkhalele does not have the required credentials to lead the national team, having only just enrolled for his CAF A coaching licence with the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA).