Bafana Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena has admitted that he is excited about the future of South African football with Pitso Mosimane at the helm.
The 45-year-old was recently appointed as boss following the departure of Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Mosimane, who served as Bafana Bafana assistant for the past four years and was also the number two at the World Cup, put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
"Bafana has a great future and the new coach (Pitso Mosimane) is going to play an important role in the team's success," Mokoena told the Weekend Post.
"He's been part of building Bafana's foundation and he knows every player's qualities and weaknesses."
The Portsmouth defender has given Mosimane his backing despite recent reports which claimed that the new coach was the reason Axe lost the Bafana captaincy in 2006.
Mosimane recently came out to rubbish these reports and rumours claiming that he would strip Mokoena of the captaincy now that he has taken over from Parreira.
"Journalists are entitled to their opinions," he said.
"But when it comes to getting your facts back-to-front then, it is not only frustrating, but downright damaging.
"It's the coach who makes that type of decision and I wasn't the coach."
The former Blackburn Rovers player has vowed to continue to give 100% for the national team.
"There was a reason I was the youngest player to represent my country and there was a reason I had more than 100 caps under my belt," he added.
"I'd made many sacrifices and am a committed person."
The 45-year-old was recently appointed as boss following the departure of Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Mosimane, who served as Bafana Bafana assistant for the past four years and was also the number two at the World Cup, put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
"Bafana has a great future and the new coach (Pitso Mosimane) is going to play an important role in the team's success," Mokoena told the Weekend Post.
"He's been part of building Bafana's foundation and he knows every player's qualities and weaknesses."
The Portsmouth defender has given Mosimane his backing despite recent reports which claimed that the new coach was the reason Axe lost the Bafana captaincy in 2006.
Mosimane recently came out to rubbish these reports and rumours claiming that he would strip Mokoena of the captaincy now that he has taken over from Parreira.
"Journalists are entitled to their opinions," he said.
"But when it comes to getting your facts back-to-front then, it is not only frustrating, but downright damaging.
"It's the coach who makes that type of decision and I wasn't the coach."
The former Blackburn Rovers player has vowed to continue to give 100% for the national team.
"There was a reason I was the youngest player to represent my country and there was a reason I had more than 100 caps under my belt," he added.
"I'd made many sacrifices and am a committed person."