When it comes to handing out appointments as acting Bafana Bafana coach to Pitso Mosimane, the South African Football Association (Safa) is taking a miserly, scrooge-like approach towards the man who is also at the helm of the Premier Soccer League’s Supersport United.
Raymond Hack on Friday announced that Mosimane will continue at the helm of Bafana for the key African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at FNB Stadium on Saturday September 2 after guiding the team to a scrappy, scrambled 1-0 win over Namibia on Wednesday night.
But the Safa CEO confirmed a decision has still to be taken on who will be at the helm of Bafana for an even more vital away Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia in October.
”It’s not to say that Mosimane will not continue as caretaker coach against Zambia,” said attorney Hack in his most evasive, legalese manner. ”It’s simply that no decision has yet been taken regarding the game in Lusaka.”
Hack, however, did reveal that Supersport United have been consulted and the club consented to release their coach for the match against the DRC.
Former Brazilian World Cup coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who is designated to be inducted as Bafana coach at the beginning of next year, is due to be present at both the DRC and Zambia games — but more in the nature of an adviser and observer, according to Safa, and not as the head coach.
Mosimane has also been chosen to serve on Parreira’s technical staff as one of his three assistant coaches next year, while retaining his position at Supersport.
But, at this moment, exactly who will be at the helm against the tricky Zambians remains shrouded in mystery — and raises speculation that Parreira could be in charge a little sooner than expected. — Sapa