Bafana Bafana is a massive football brand and South Africa is an attractive football destination for many around the world.
It’s no surprise then that former coaches Frenchman Philippe Troussier and Portuguese Carlos Queiroz have been the latest names linked with the job.
The Frenchman was the man who was famously placed in charge of Bafana Bafana for their first ever appearance at the World Cup back in 1998.
He was in charge of the team for just a few months and it was chaotic with the Frenchman’s management style criticised.
I’ve spoken to the majority of the players who were in the squad in France, some really big and influential names in South Africa whose opinion should matter.
Only David Nyathi is on the important Safa Technical Committee that has been tasked with finding the next Bafana coach.
The committee is made up of Chairman Jack Maluleka‚ his deputy Bhuda Mathate‚ Greg Mashilo‚ Sudesh Singh‚ Mzwandile Mnqamkani‚ Litheko Marago‚ Anna Nyaman‚ Mziwanele Wopa‚ Thozamile Lugayeni‚ David Molwantoa‚ Boebie Solomons‚ Thulani Ngwenya‚ Simphiwe Mkhangelwa and Thebe Sekoto.
It’s been 29 years since our readmission to international football, and we still can’t produce a committee made of a majority of former national players or ex-professionals.
Why am I not surprised to read a quote such as “(Troussier and Queiroz) want the job and the players will respect them” from a supposed “insider” at Safa right now. Who is that insider? Has he/she ever worked with Troussier? I don’t think so.
I’ve never heard anything positive about Troussier from any of the players I’ve spoken to, and I’ve spoken to at least 15 members of that squad. None of them have ever said anything positive about the guy.
Queiroz, meanwhile, made a positive and lasting impact on South African football. He arrived in the country as an energised coach full of ideas, one of which was a paper called the Q-Report, which Safa rejected.
He later implemented it in the USA and it has produced the latest generation of American footballers.
Under the Portuguese mentor, Bafana qualified for the 2002 World Cup comfortably and for whatever reason, Safa came into the mix and tried to influence how he managed the team.
Safa did the same thing to Clive Barker with only a few months left before the 1998 Afcon and World Cup. They also did it to Stuart Baxter, during his first spell in charge, when he was cruising to Afcon 2006 qualification.
Barker, Baxter and Queiroz all left their jobs without seeing their projects all the way through.
I dare say they should have let Molefi Ntseki finish his job because he is a reflection of who we are as a football nation. He is a product of the association after all.
The only thing Safa needs to do is to admit that the problem is in the office because it clearly doesn’t matter whether a coach is successful or not.
The Safa office fat cats will more than likely throw their weight around at the worst possible moment.
Why are they so sacred of employing and including some of the country’s greats in their decision-making? What is it that they fear so much about former players?
I’m not saying the whole of Safa must have former national players, but we should at least have them involved in numbers for them to share their experiences and knowhow.
Most importantly, former players will make sure that the mistakes made during their time in the national team do not happen again.
The guys there right now are the same guys who fight over promotional t-shirts and caps at activations and tournaments, and get excited about free flights and hotel stays.
I’m not joking! You should see them when they arrive at tournaments and such, “please organise a T-shirt and cap please man” and they will be there with their children, who you must organise for as well.
How do you expect a guy like that to manage a property recognised worldwide like Bafana Bafana?