CAPE TOWN – The SA Football Association (SAFA) is expected to confirm the identity of the new national team coach next week.
This is according to SAFA head of communications Dominic Chimhavi, who told a local football publication that the new Bafana Bafana head coach will be named after the upcoming international friendly matches against Guinea-Bissau (Saturday) and Angola (next week Tuesday).
The footballing mother body has already delayed the announcement several times, presumably due to the challenges they have faced in head-hunting their preferred candidate.
The early front-runners for the job included two-time AFCON-winning coach Herve Renard, as well as former Bafana Bafana and Real Madrid head coach Carlos Queiroz.
However, Queiroz is reportedly unable to cut short his contract with the Iran national team, while Morocco boss Renard has apparently not been contacted by SAFA and is focussed on his current job. Both men would also likely come with hefty price tags, while Renard would also want to bring in a sizeable technical team entourage of his own should be given the job.
Hugo Broos, manager of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations-winning side Cameroon, has also been mentioned as an option. But it’s been SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter, who was at the helm for the national team 12 years ago, and former Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol, who have emerged as strongest candidates over the last week or so.
Baxter, however, says there has been no approach from SAFA and seems happy with current job in Pretoria, where his side are set to challenge for the league title. But Krol has confirmed having spoken to SAFA and admits the job would interest him.
The former Dutch international was a popular man during his time at Orlando Pirates eight years ago, when he won the league, a couple of cup competitions, and the supporters’ respect. The 67-year-old has subsequently been based in north Africa where he has worked for several clubs, including Sfaxien, whom he guided to CAF Confederation Cup glory in 2013.
Krol also had a brief stint as caretaker coach of Tunisia, while further back in his career (1995/6), he was the Egyptian national team boss.
Another candidate that has been mentioned, Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt, is looking increasingly unlikely to be offered the job. Although the resignation of Roger De Sa from Maritzburg United this week provides a potentially interesting twist – De Sa had at one stage seemed a possibility to assist Queiroz in the national team setup. His availability as a PSL coach may also increase the willingness of SuperSport or Bidvest Wits to part ways with Baxter and Hunt respectively.
But it’s Krol for now who appears to have the inside lane.
The appointment of a new head coach however is not SAFA’s only burning issue.
Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was this week given a life-time ban by FIFA for ‘match manipulation’ during the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Senegal in November last year. FIFA are still looking into the matter and there is a concern that match-fixing allegations could be levelled at South Africa, who beat Senegal 2-1 in Polokwane; the hosts’ first goal having come via the penalty spot after a clearly incorrect handball decision by Lamptey.
The Senegal victory was also the game that got previous head coach, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba fired, after his post-match comments were found by SAFA to amount to gross misconduct, insubordination and the violation of their communications policy.
Mashaba is currently challenging his axing with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and is fighting either for reinstatement, or a hefty payout of up to five or six million rand.
His hearing has also been dragging on and has been postponed several times – possibly one, or at least another reason behind SAFA’s delay in announcing the new head coach.