The South African Football Association (Safa) has finally confirmed the appointment of Joel Santana as coach of Bafana Bafana, following the resignation of Carlos Alberto Parreira on Monday.
The worst-kept secret in local soccer was confirmed in a press release from the body on Wednesday, prompted by widespread acceptance in the local media that Santana was the preferred candidate.
He replaces countryman Parreira, who resigned on Monday citing his wife’s illness due to cancer as his reason for not wanting to complete his contract with Safa that was due to run until after the 2010 World Cup finals.
The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by Safa CEO Raymond Hack, who said that Santana (59) had accepted the position and after being hand-picked by Parreira.
He said: ”There are still legalities to sort out such as his work permit and actually signing the contract but he is our man and has agreed to coach Bafana. We are hoping he will start work around May 9.”
Senior Safa officials will be heading to Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to meet Santana and formally get him to sign the contract, which lasts until after the World Cup finals.
Hack said the fact that Santana does not have any experience coaching a national team will not be a major stumbling block.
”He is a top coach, having won the Brazilian championship four times. He also coaches the biggest club in the world at present and has coached some of the biggest stars in the game. We strongly believe we have found the right man to replace Parreira,” he said.
There should be a smooth transition of power between Parreira and Santana. Said Hack: ”We have listened to and accepted Parreira’s advice. He rates Santana very highly and has the same philosophy and vision as Parreira.
”The fact that he will work alongside Parreira’s technical team [assistant coaches Jairo Leal and South African-born Pitso Mosimane] is a big plus and means that the team will continue the good work and foundation that Carlos laid for building a competitive squad for the 2010 World Cup.”
Parreira will stay on as technical adviser and has welcomed the appointment. ”Natalino is a specialist in winning championships. He has won many championships with big clubs in Brazil and has coached great Brazilian players like Romario, Bebeto and Juhnino, just to name a few,” he said.
”I believe he will provide the continuity that is so crucial in preparing the team, especially with Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane remaining to assist.”
Santana said: ”Carlos is one of the most respected coaches in the world, and I’m determined to carry out the mandate of continuing the good work that has been done by him and his technical team. I’m confident about the task ahead of me and I believe my experience in working with many top clubs will assist in preparing the team for the big challenge ahead.”
He will be thrown in the deep end when he prepares Bafana Bafana for four difficult back-to-back African Nations Cup qualifiers against Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea in June.
Bafana play the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Nigerian city of Abuja in the opening 2010 Afcon qualifier on May 30, after which they play Sierra Leone in The Gambia, due to the fact there are no suitable stadiums to host an important Afcon qualifier.
They then have home and away clashes against Equatorial Guinea before the end of June. — Sapa