Diplomatic relations among South Africa, Brazil and India (a grouping known as Ibsa) could settle what is developing into a fierce battle for the Bafana Bafana coaching job. The shortlist is down to three candidates: Carlos Parreira, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Frank Rijkaard.
Parreira has emerged as the frontrunner because of his pedigree and, more precisely, as a consequence of transcontinental trade agreements among the Ibsa countries.
Although these relationships are purely economic, aimed at presenting a common position in world forums, pundits say they could go beyond, into cultural exchanges, and grow into other spheres, such as sporting ties.
Brazil, together with its South American neighbours, voted as a bloc in South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 soccer World Cup and talk has been that in return the South African Football Association (Safa) promised to support them in their 2014 bid.
Insiders within Safa say the technical committee will meet on Tuesday to finalise its proposals for the three targets. These suggestions will then be forwarded to the head office to begin the process of negotiating financial packages and other personal and technical demands.
The technical committee, which was initially divided over the issue of a local versus a foreign coach, is now working fairly amicably and relations between chairperson Sturu Pasiya and former coach Ted Dumitru are better.
A source close to the committee says: ”They are almost in agreement in everything they do now. The meeting next week won’t last too long. I am sure, for the sake of ensuring that everyone is satisfied with the final list, one or two names outside the three will be discussed, but in essence the three are the main people they will be recommending.”
Pasiya told the Mail & Guardian that the national association will use ”any connections and explore any possibilities to try and get the coach we want”.
Although it has been difficult to establish the exact criteria used in selecting a candidate, the M&G understands Pasiya’s committee agreed that experience, international knowledge and a detailed plan for the team were key elements. Apparently, Parreira fulfils these requirements best.
While Rijkaard’s reputation has been enhanced after his current team, Barcelona, earned an away victory in the Champions League semifinal this week against AC Milan — and are almost certain to progress to the final — Safa sources say Parreira has ”an accurate plan to rectify our problems”.
It is difficult to ascertain whether the committee has had any direct talks with the Brazilian yet, but — unlike other coaches — Parreira is said not to want to bring his own staff.
Concerned critics argue, though, that Safa should be careful about signing someone like Parreira. The World Cup-winning coach has all the T-shirts and at his age, 63, has nothing to prove in world football. ”He does not want many people around him,” our sources told us.
Previous foreign coaches have had skirmishes with locally imposed Safa officials — with relations ending sourly. Safa seems to have changed tack now, with Pasiya using conciliatory language to describe future relations between local and foreign coaches. ”We said there should be synchronisation of national teams. What we recommend is that an under-23 coach should become a technical member of the senior team,” explained Pasiya.
Rijkaard, commentators say, may lack the wisdom of Parreira, but still has the desire to prove himself. ”The quality of his team, its movement and creativity is setting the trend. His players are ahead of the future; they are relaxed, they don’t lose the ball easily and are confident. That is what you need with our players,” argues a premier league coach.
Scolari, who has pulled out of the race for the England job and is reported not to want to discuss his future plans, has heightened expectations that, should Safa fail to agree to terms with Parreira, he could be headed for these shores.
His contract with Portugal is due to end after this year’s World Cup. Pasiya insists that the technical committee has met its deadline for finding Dumitru’s successor, painstakingly correcting the popular view that his committee was tasked with releasing the name in mid-April and stating that ”our job was to find an interim coach for Cosafa, which we have done, and then recommend a national coach name, and that also we will do next week”.
It could be a while yet, though, before the name is finally released. Meanwhile, the name of a businessman/woman to be included in the newly formed commercial wing of Safa remains a secret, despite mention of a few heavyweights.
There are concerns that Safa may again shoot itself in the foot by choosing someone who is already fully engaged and won’t have enough time to attend board meetings. One name that was mentioned is that of Cyril Ramaphosa — the politician turned businessman resigned from a number of board executive positions more than a year ago, citing a heavy schedule.
Although Safa say this body’s function will be to set policy, surely its task will be to ensure that those policies are carried out? Therefore it makes no sense to get someone who is already over-burdened with other responsibilities.
Its power, to seek accountability, which has been the problem of the national association all along, will require individuals who will be able to perform those duties.