Pitso is taking a break but dreams of winning Afcon - and not necessarily with Bafana

The South African Football Association (SAFA) rolled out the red carpet for former Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane on Thursday.

They held a special press conference for the 58-year-old, presenting him with his CAF Pro Licence certificate handed over by SAFA president Danny Jordaan, Anastasia Tsichlas (SAFA executive) and Jessica Motaung (CAF member and Kaizer Chiefs marketing manager).

There were beaming smiles all around despite SAFA axing Mosimane from the national job a decade ago. However, since then his coaching career has flourished. He now has to be celebrated, and SAFA is playing its part.

Mosimane, who was in great spirits and in a relaxed mood, has been without a job, but it is by choice this time.

He shockingly resigned as Al Ahly's head coach in June, 18 months into his two-year deal that was going exceptionally well despite shortfalls in the Egyptian Premier League.

He emphatically conquered the CAF Champions League, winning the tournament back-to-back and adding a third winners' medal to his collection. That was enough for the Al Ahly hierarchy to tie him down to a renewed deal, extending his stay until 2024, with Mosimane signing on the dotted line.

But three months later, he wanted out, and now he is taking a break, something he has not been able to do, he revealed.

"We always have offers," said 'Jingles', as he is affectionately known. 

"The hold-up was for me to take a bit of a break - 21 years... I have always spoken about the sabbatical, which I never took. Now I got my chance. I feel good; I feel happy to be home."

However, three months into his so-called sabbatical, Mosimane is plotting his next move, and he wants to win the Africa Cup of Nations, even if it's without Bafana Bafana.

Even the