EXCLUSIVE: Former Togo & Gabon coach Paulo Duarte ready take over from Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana coach after his success in Burkina Faso - But can Orlando Pirates give him a chance?

Since taking over as Bafana Bafana coach, coach Hugo Broos has helped the national team become one of the best, so far, in Africa.

He helped them win bronze in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast and will be aiming at going two steps further in the 2025 edition to be held later in the year in Morocco.

There are high chances that South Africa will also qualify for the 2026 World Cup to be jointly held by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

South Africa are currently top of Group C with 13 points from six matches, five more than Benin and Rwanda, who are on eight.

There is a possibility that Broos might leave if he fails to help Bafana qualify for the World Cup or after the competition next year.

He might still quit after helping the National Team qualify for the prestigious global tournament and pass the mantle to another tactician.

Paulo Duarte is ready to take over if the Belgian calls it a day.

"[Broos]He is a coach I respect, and it wouldn’t be right for me to say that I could replace him," he told GOAL.

"At the moment, I’m focused on taking the right step in my career, in a solid project that attracts and motivates me.

"Hugo Broos has done a great job in South Africa. They secured qualification for AFCON and are well-positioned for the 2026 World Cup. South Africa will always be a respected team, with players of great quality.

"However, I can’t hide the fact that if I ever had the opportunity to coach Bafana Bafana, it would be a privilege," Duarte added.

The 55-year-old insists he has what it takes to help teams deliver like in the case of Burkina Faso, which had struggled to make an impact in the continent.

"One of the moments that marked me the most was winning the bronze medal at the 2017 AFCON with Burkina Faso. We managed to transform a team that was considered 'unknown' into one of the best African teams, ranking in the top five or top 10 of the continent. We built a team of great quality, which remains one of the strongest in Africa to this day," he continued.

"In Togo, we also carried out a team renewal, and we were confident that it would follow the same path of growth, but I ended up accepting the offer in Saudi Arabia and leaving.

"Both in Burkina Faso and Togo, we had very solid projects, which proves the long-term work, 8 years in Burkina and 3 years in Togo," Duarte concluded.

Duarte has proved he has what it takes to help any team realise its set objectives.

Initially, he stated that he could coach even the likes of Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates if he gets a chance.

With Jose Riveiro leaving Bucs at the end of the season, can the Soweto giants, maybe, consider the Portuguese?