Helman Mkhalele's Path to Becoming Bafana Bafana Head Coach Gains Momentum - Diski 365

Helman Mkhalele's hopes of replacing Hugo Broos as South Africa's head coach have gained traction as the country discovers its World Cup opponents and the former Orlando Pirates star advances his coaching qualifications. Mkhalele, nicknamed the Midnight Express during his playing days, has enrolled for the CAF A Coaching License, a requirement to manage a senior African national team. The course will run from 18 to 25 November at the Bambatha Ts'ita Sports Arena in Maseru, Lesotho. He will be joined by fellow South African legends David Nyathi and Mpho Maleka. Nyathi has experience as Ajax Cape Town's assistant coach and as SAFA chief scout, while Maleka has coached several PSL clubs including Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Marumo Gallants. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is set to retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving a vacancy for his successor. Broos, who signed a five-year contract in 2021, has identified Mkhalele as the right candidate to take over. However, he cautioned that Mkhalele currently lacks the required qualifications to lead a senior national team. In 2023, Mkhalele coached Bafana during the COSAFA Cup but was replaced by Morena Ramoreboli due to CAF licensing requirements. At that time, Mkhalele held only a SAFA Level One badge. Later that year, he obtained a CAF B License, and the upcoming CAF A course will make him fully eligible to lead Bafana Bafana. The timing of Mkhalele's qualification push aligns with South Africa's recent achievement in youth football. The national U17 team, the Amajimbos, reached the knockout phase of the 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the first time. They will face Japan in the Round of 32 at the Aspire Zone in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The winner will advance to face either North Korea or Venezuela in the Round of 16. Mkhalele's progress and the exposure of South African teams at international tournaments highlight the country's growing football development. Once he completes the CAF A License course, Mkhalele will be well-positioned to succeed Broos and guide Bafana through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and beyond. With experience as a player in the PSL and internationally, combined with formal coaching credentials, Mkhalele's appointment would signal a transition toward continuity and growth for South African football.