More allegations against Makalakalane

Banyana Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane has been accused by two former players of sexual harassment. They claim he is also homophobic and only wants "straight girls" on his team.

Banyana Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane has been accused by two former players of sexual harassment. They claim he is also homophobic and only wants "straight girls" on his team.

Published Nov 27, 2010

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Banyana Banyana star Nthabiseng “Moemish” Matshaba claims coach Augustine Makalakalane, a former Bafana legend, repeatedly harassed her sexually and then dropped her from the squad when she refused to give in to his demands.

The SA Football Association has launched an investigation.

“The coach asked me on numerous occasions to have sex with him and each time I declined. When I said no he got angry and he fired me,” said Matshaba.

“He tried to fondle me also but I never allowed him too.”

Matshaba, who was forced to leave the squad just before the 7th African Women Championship finals three weeks ago, said she had been “heart-broken” after she was left out of the squad, but will refuse to play under Makalakalane, 46.

And she is not the first player to blow the whistle on Makalakalane. Last week, left-back Gloria Thato also claimed she had been sexually harassed by the 46-year-old Makalakalane.

In an interview with Sunday World newspaper, Thato claimed she was dropped from the team in June after Makalakalane told her she was too thin and not strong enough to play – despite having 30 caps under her belt. “He also tried making sexual advances to me but I told him he was not my type. I see him as a father and nothing else,” said Thato.

”Makalakalane has no respect for women. I left the camp because of his stinking attitude towards the fairer sex,” she added.

The former Bafana player has also been accused of homophobia after several players claimed he only wanted “straight ladies in his team”.

The under-siege coach failed to take Banyana to the 2011 Fifa Women’s World Cup as they were eliminated in the semifinal of the CAF Women’s Championship.

Morio Sanyane, Safa spokesperson, said they were looking into the claims of misconduct as well as of under-performance on the field.

”There is an internal process currently underway. Safa will pronounce on the matter once the process is completed,” said Sanyane.

Makalakalane could not be contacted for comment.

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