Amazulu coach Benni McCarthy has “agreed in principle” to become the next coach of Bafana Bafana, according to a TimesLive report.
The report claims that McCarthy has agreed to become the coach of the national team, though he would like to take Usuthu coaching staff Moeneeb Josephs and Siyabonga Nomvethe along with him.
According to another report in the City Press, McCarthy is set to start his new job on May 29 – just a week to name and prepare a squad for their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign opener against Zimbabwe on the weekend of June 5.
But it is believed that with AmaZulu hitting the top of the PSL on Saturday and still in the race for the title with Mamelodi Sundowns, the club wants to get its succession plan in place before letting their coaching team go.
And Safa doesn’t want to cause any disruption to their title race, sending out a statement yesterday reading: “We have noted that various publications over the last week have reported the appointment of new Bafana Bafana coach as having been concluded.
“Firstly, it was Carlos Queiroz, then Pitso Mosimane and most recently AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy.
“Safa has always stated that the technical committee will submit their final recommendations to the Safa NEC, the highest decision-making body, which will finally make the announcement once the process is concluded.
“We note that Benni McCarthy’s name comes at a time when AmaZulu are top of the log standings and it might appear that Safa wants to derail the club’s good run.
“We are happy with AmaZulu’s current good run but SAFA will announce the new incoming coach once the issue is dealt with by the NEC.”