OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 12.45pm.
BAFANA Bafana coach Trott Moloto was unrepentant as he arrived back in South Africa with his team on Sunday night from the in the African Nations’ Cup.
After finishing third, Moloto insisted he was satisfied with the way his team played, despite wide-spread criticism of his 3-5-2 formation — a “tactical blunder” Nigeria say they used to dispatch South Africa in their 2-0 semi-final win.
“I have no complaints,” Moloto said, before South Africa Football Association (Safa) chief executive Raymond Hack spirited him away.
“It was quite a nice tournament and the boys did well. We have done everything in out power. Having to go into the quarter-finals to play a country at their home ground was not going to be an easy game. But against all the odds we have done very well,” Moloto said of his side’s performance.
Hack angrily denied that Moloto had been sacked.
“Trott Moloto is still the national coach. And until Safa have been advised by our technical committee and until we have studied their report on the African Nations’ Cup, as well as the coach’s, Safa will continue to defend and support Trott Moloto in his role as national coach,” Hack told reporters.
Asked about his contract, Moloto said: “I will not comment about what the media is saying. My contract comes up for renewal by the SA Football Association and it’s up to them to decide whether they want to keep me.”
Meanwhile, Pierre Issa said he hoped Mark Fish would rethink his international retirement.
“I hope Fish will change his mind. He is a very important part of the team,” Issa said.
One of the heroes of the campaign, striker Siyabonga Nomvete, says he hasn’t had any job international offers, despite rumours he was being eyed by Italian clubs. — AFP