JOHANNESBURG - The ongoing battle between axed Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba and the SA Football Association (Safa), his former employers, will now be referred to an arbitrator after the two parties could not reach a settlement late on Tuesday.
Mashaba, through his lawyer Claudio Bollo, is challenging his dismissal as the national team coach. He was fired in December and feels his contract was unfairly terminated. The case was directed to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Bollo had been quoted saying Mashaba, 66, was delighted at the prospect of possibility retaining his position as Bafana coach, which was first prize. Mashaba was earning R500 000 a month and had signed a contract until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“But we were not successful,” Bollo said. “The two parties could not even reach a settlement in the conciliation hearing, which means we now have to wait for a date for an arbitrator as soon as possible.
"The two parties will now present their case and the commissioner will decide on the dispute and this is legally binding. We got the conciliation date pretty quickly, so we are hoping the same will apply in this case as well.”
Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble is on the record stating that the association is adamant they have a water-tight case against Mashaba, who was fired for gross misconduct, insubordination and violating the organisation’s communication policy.
Mashaba’s troubles began in November 12 shortly after he guided Bafana to a 2-1 win over Senegal in a World Cup qualifier played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. He was caught on camera wagging his finger at Safa officials – including president Danny Jordaan – claiming that they had not given him the support he deserves during the preceding months of his tenure, especially after he failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Safa have not yet begun the search for Mashaba’s replacement but have been inundated with applications from all over the world. An announcement on the new Bafana coach will be made next month and it is possible the arbitrator would have made a ruling on Mashaba’s future by then.
@superjourno