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Pitso Mosimane wants to put his efforts on youth football

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane receives coach of the season award at PSL awards in Durban./Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane receives coach of the season award at PSL awards in Durban./Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images

It's not going to happen anytime soon, but Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed that his burning desire is to produce complete footballers capable of representing the nation on the world stage.

Mosimane, 54, has an impressive CV in the PSL, with league titles and domestic cup competitions to his name.

On the international stage, he has also coached Bafana Bafana and won the CAF Champions League with the Brazilians. So what could be next for him?

Mosimane, who has won the PSL Coach of the Season award for the second season running, has hinted he may some day quit club football and run a youth football academy.

"I would like to do youth football and to understand it more," revealed Mosimane, while speaking at Durban's International Convention Centre at the PSL awards at the weekend.

It concerns him that SA has not been able to produce world-class players who could play for the big teams overseas and help Bafana Bafana get through the group stage at the Fifa World Cup.

"I will tell you why; I've seen a player at Bafana, I've seen a player at Sundowns fighting in the Champions League and I've seen a player in the Absa Premiership.

"There's one common thing that I find; they have bad habits and one of the issues is putting the ball in the net. We miss a lot guys - let's be honest," he said.

"We play teams that don't outplay us, but they beat us - one chance, one goal.

"I know what the player of tomorrow lacks. I've seen (Thembinkosi) Lorch, I've seen Themba Zwane, Percy Tau, Katlego Mphela. it's not a finished product and it can be better," said Mosimane.

"I want to build a player for the World Cup. I want Bafana in the World Cup and not just to go there and come out of the group, but progress (to the next stage)... So that's my next chapter," he said.

Mosimane, meanwhile, is pleased that local coaches fared well this season.

"Firstly, we need to congratulate the local coaches. Steve Barker won the NFD, Dan Malesela (Nedbank Cup), Benni McCarthy (MTN8) and we won the Absa Premiership.

"We have to fight - our jobs are on the line. We are competing with people who come from the school of football - Europe," he said.

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