Pitso Mosimane, born in Kagiso, South Africa, in 1964, grew up in Soweto, the largest township in the country, during the apartheid era.

Residing in a ‘matchbox house’ with his family, his father, a local businessman, owned a shop.

Pitso’s journey into football began at school, where he was discovered by Jomo Sono, a former professional player in Canada and the United States.

His playing career unfolded primarily in South Africa, representing teams such as Jomo Cosmos, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns, earning four caps for the national team.

During a six-year stint with the Greek top-flight side Ionikos, he contemplated retirement plans. In 1995, Pitso moved to the now-defunct Belgian side KFC Rita Berlaar, simultaneously taking on his first official coaching role, assisting with their under-11s.

Completing his playing career with Al Sadd in Qatar, he returned to South Africa, dedicating himself to coaching school children from local villages.

Recognized as one of the most successful coaches in African football, Pitso assumed the role of SuperSport United’s interim head coach in 2001, steering the team away from relegation concerns and securing a second-place finish.

His coaching journey continued, contributing to South Africa’s backroom staff during the 2010 World Cup before becoming the national team’s head coach for two years.

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Pitso has achieved domestic success in Egypt, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, clinching the CAF Champions League three times. In 2016, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) honoured him with the Coach of the Year award.

Having tasted success on two continents and a brief stint with Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates, the 59-year-old is poised for a new challenge, aiming to affirm his status as one of the world’s top coaches.