By Mkareng Matshe
Ted Dumitru will later this month recommend that a local coach take over as his replacement at Bafana Bafana when he submits his report on the national team's abject performance at the African Cup of Nations.
Molefi Oliphant already subscribes to that view, although the South African Football Association (Safa) president reiterated on Monday that he did not "discount" the appointment of a foreigner. Dumitru will, however, urge the national football controlling body to strictly cast their eyes at home.
"We need someone who understands our problems and only local candidates know what we've been through. I will absolutely not recommend a foreign candidate (in my report)," Dumitru said.
"If there's going to be a foreign coach we'll have serious problems."
Of course, there are certain personal and national goals on which Dumitru has set his sights even though his contract with Safa lapses at the end of this month.
He wants to continue serving the national team "in some capacity" and see to it that an inexperienced bunch who disgraced the nation in Egypt by failing to score even a goal serve as the core of the squad.
A top-rated foreign coach, if appointed, would spell doom for Dumitru's plans because he would doubtless interpret even harmless voluntary advice as meddling in his affairs.
No self-respecting coach likes a working condition in which there's someone constantly looking over their shoulder, but Dumitru believes - and will state in his report which is expected to be debated on February 27 - that this is the way to go.
"We need a collective approach as we're a developing nation. A new coach would be bound by this reality - that he needs to consult regularly with us to take this country forward," Dumitru said.
Neither Guus Hiddink nor Patrice Neveu would want to work in such conditions or listen to a man who led South Africa to their worst Cup of Nations finals but, Pitso Mosimane, for instance, would probably not mind if Dumitru called him on his cellphone to discuss team tactics.
After serving as his assistant in Egypt, it is highly likely that Dumitru would have Mosimane high up on the list of local candidates who should take over from him.
Of course, the Safa hierarchy are not bound by Dumitru's recommendations and, if they so wish, they could opt to make a high-profile signing.
Oliphant told The Star from Cairo on Monday that there was "no need for urgency" in announcing the coach and that his executive committee has not set a deadline for the appointment of the new man.
However, the coach's position would be high on the February 27 agenda, Oliphant said.
Having seen Senegal, Nigeria and Egypt reach today's Cup of Nations semifinals under the guidance of their own local coaches, Oliphant opined yesterday that he would love to see the same happening in South Africa. Pressed on whether foreigners who expressed interest in the position - such as Guinea coach Neveu, and Englishman Terry Venables - can forget about getting the nod, the Safa president said: "I don't discount them in any way."
Dumitru will officially relinquish the Bafana head coach's post at the end of the month but, even if the Safa leadership object to his request that he be allowed to "supervise" whoever replaces him, he would still be involved with the national team. "I will still serve on the technical committee," he said.
With Egypt 2006 hugely denting his legacy, Dumitru would have preferred to bow out more graciously but news that Poland have pulled out of an international friendly against Bafana - which was scheduled for March 1 - means he won't get another chance.
"Logic had dictated that he be in charge for that game but Poland withdrew. As far as I know we don't have a replacement yet," Oliphant said.