Sports Correspondent

Renowned coach Pitso Mosimane has shed light on why South African players are struggling to make a mark in Europe’s top leagues, unlike their Zimbabwean counterparts. Mosimane’s comments come on the heels of Zimbabwean international Marshall Munetsi’s move to Wolves.

Mosimane attributed the challenge to South African players’ tendency to master only one position while playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). This limited versatility, he believes, hampers their growth and adaptability. He cited Munetsi as an example, noting that the player was utilized as a midfielder at Orlando Pirates but has since been deployed as a striker at Wolves.

“It just shows that international football and local football are totally different,” Mosimane said on The Dan Corder Show on eNCA. “We have the flair, we play well, but as long as we don’t have players in top European leagues, we can’t say we’re good enough.”

Mosimane emphasized the importance of having players in top European leagues, citing the likes of Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Riyad Mahrez as examples. He stressed that the real challenge in South Africa is developing players who can compete at that level.

“It all comes down to positioning, ball control, and decision-making – skills that distinguish superstars like Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, and Neymar,” Mosimane concluded.