‘I want the same salary as the white man’ – Jomo Sono on why Pitso rejected R5m
· The South African
Orlando Pirates legend Jomo Sono has shared his thoughts on the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as Bafana Bafana’s new head coach.
Mosimane, affectionately known as ‘Jingles’, returns to the hot seat having previously coached the national team between 2010 and 2012.
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Sono, who both played with and coached Mosimane, also reflected on the negotiations that initially threatened to derail his return to the national team.
It was previously reported that Mosimane was offered a salary of R5 million by the South African Football Association (SAFA), which he rejected. After lengthy negotiations that reportedly lasted nearly two weeks, the two parties eventually reached an agreement worth R15 million.
Jomo reacts to Pitso getting Bafana job
Speaking to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000, Sono spoke fondly of Mosimane and praised his achievements as both a player and coach.
“I was really proud and I have been really proud of his achievements as a footballer, coach and as an international coach. He came a long way and Pitso is a hard worker.
“Some say he’s arrogant, he took it from me, but in South African football, sometimes arrogance helps. Pitso tells it like it is. A no is a no and a yes is a yes,” Sono said.
Sono also revealed that he was not surprised Mosimane rejected the initial R5 million offer, particularly after Hugo Broos had reportedly earned R15 million.
“I knew that Pitso would never take R5 million when he knew that Broos got R15 million. Even I, I wouldn’t take it. I would say, ‘No, I don’t want it. I want the same as the white man.’”
Jomo also revealed that Pitso is not the only local coach to be offered a low salary by SAFA.
With Mosimane now preparing for his second stint in charge, Sono has urged him to avoid making too many changes to the squad and instead build on the team that represented South Africa at the World Cup.
Bafana are scheduled to return to action later this month in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, giving Mosimane little time to prepare his squad.
Sono believes the new coach should stick with the core of the World Cup squad while making only a handful of additions.
“He has to play the team that featured in the World Cup. He must not introduce new players and build. He is playing now in three weeks’ time.
“He must select the players who played in the World Cup and add one or two players. They know each other,” Jomo advised Pitso.