Vuvuzela South Africa

According to the Safa website: On Monday 19 October 2009 it was unanimously agreed between the Management Committee representing the South African Football Association and the Senior National Coach Mr Joel Natalino Santana, that Mr. Santana would, with immediate effect vacate his current position as Bafana Bafana National Coach.

Santana to be Replaced

Safa is expected to name a new Bafana Bafana head coach on Friday to replace Joel Santana.

Brazilian-born Santana who was a replacement Carlos Alberto Parreira spent a dismal 16 months in charge of the national soccer team, a period that has seen that has seen Bafana Bafana plunge down the rankings to 85th place.

Lowest Ranking Ever

The 85th ranking is Bafana Bafana’s lowest ever, with South Africa dropping 12 positions from last month’s 73rd placing. No wonder after eight defeats in their last nine friendly internationals since reaching the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in June.

Said Safa spokesperson Morio Sanyane: “Santana resigned after he met with the president (Nematandani and his management committee) on Monday. The parties had a heart to heart talk and Santana decided to stand down. A new coach could be named when the Safa executive meet on Friday.”

In the interim, the Management Committee resolved that  Jairo Leal and  Pitso Mosimane would assume the role of Caretaker Coaches.

Problem Deeper than a New Coach

Many think that Bafana Bafana’s problems run much deeper than the coach. At the moment, we have a demoralized squad and the management in South African football at each other’s throats, tripping over their own egos.

Yes, a new coach is necessary, but Safa also needs to clean up its act and stop playing political games. The governing body of soccer in South Africa, the host country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, needs to be unified and committed and have some dignity!

New Coach for Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana needs more than a coach. What has happened to that Sports psychologist who worked with the team before the Confed Cup, the guy who works with the Boks? He should be brought back to make sure the boys are feeling good about themselves again and getting their heads as well as their bodies into the game.

As for the new coach for Bafana Bafana – well, we will know on Friday

Will Parreira come Back?

Football365 believes that Hunt, Sono and Barker will undoubtedly be the front-runners for the vacant coaching job, as it would be foolish to appoint another foreigner so close to the world’s biggest sporting event.

But then I wonder about all the noise the other Brazilian, Carlos Alberto Parreira has been making about being available to coach Bafana Bafana as long as he is the only coach. Despite Safa’s denials about not speaking to him, would he expose himself so for nothing?

Photo: Carlos Natalino Santana football356.co.za

Popularity: 5% [?]