Pitso’s top 5 favourite players in previous spell at Bafana
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Pitso’s top 5 favourite players in previous spell at Bafana
Aug 12, 2026 – 08:15 pm
By Thato Bosoga
With Pitso Mosimane set to return to Bafana Bafana as Hugo Broos’ successor, KickOff reveals the top five players who featured the most during the celebrated coach’s last spell in charge of the national team between 2010 and 2012.
Mosimane took over the Bafana reins just after the 2010 FIFA World Cup on home soil following the departure of Carlos Alberto Parreira.
‘Jingles’ was in charge for 17 matches, between July 2010 and June 2012, before he was relieved of his duties after the inability to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations was followed by a series of unsatisfactory results.
At number five of the players who featured the most during this period is Reneilwe Letsholonyane, back then at Kaizer Chiefs, as he featured in approximately 59% of the Bafana’s matches.
Bernard Parker follows at joint-third, after playing in 65% of the fixtures, initially plying his trade in the Netherlands for FC Twente (also on loan at Greek club Panserraikos) and later joining Amakhosi in July 2011.
He played the same number of games as Katlego Mphela, who started to make a name for himself at Bafana during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and was undoubtedly one of Mosimane’s favourites.
Two players are also tied, having played the most number of games under the 62-year-old during the period mentioned above.
READ | Khumalo: There are similarities with current Bafana & 1996 crop
Siphiwe Tshabalala, who famously scored the opening goal at the 2010 World Cup against Mexico, jointly played the most number of encounters under the Kagiso-born mentor, featuring in 70% of the matches, while doing club duty at the Glamour Boys.
As an outfield player, ‘Shabba’ did well to have played the same number of matches as his former club teammate Itumeleng Khune. Ironically, both the players boast each 91 caps in national team colours.