New Bafana Bafana coach Brazilian Joel Santana has not come to South Africa on a safari.
At his first press conference at Johannesburg’s Safa House on Monday, he spelt out what he hoped to achieve during the 30 months that he will be in charge of the national team.
He is not big on words, but on action.
He said: ”I will do my talking on the training pitch.”
In other words, he is big on discipline.
But the first priority after getting to know his new players will be to master English.
Speaking through an interpreter, Santana said: ”Accepting this job is not an adventure. It is a very difficult mission but not an impossible one. And one that I have the courage to go forward with. This is a very important day in my professional coaching career. I feel proud and emotional to be given such a responsibility.”
Santana is a straight talker who looks like a prize fighter and does not appear to be the type of coach who will accept any nonsense from his players.
He was a professional soccer player for 10 years and won the Brazilian championship with Vasco da Gama. He has coached for the last 25 years.
He is the only coach in Brazil to have won four Rio de Janeiro state championships with four different clubs. Although he has coached in Saudi Arabia and Japan, this will be his first time in charge of a national team.
He was hand-picked by the man he succeeded, Carlos Alberto Parreira, of whom he says: ”I have known and been friends with Parreira for 20 years. I am honoured he chose me. I will not let him or South Africa down. I have dedicated myself to the South Africa cause.”
On why he accepted the Bafana hot seat, he said: ”This was an opportunity too good to miss. Who would turn down the chance of coaching South Africa at the next World Cup, which they are hosting? This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I look forward to it.
”I have worked my way up from the bottom to where I am today.”
He appealed for support from the South African public and media.
”I need help with this task,” he admitted.
He will not be bringing in extra coaches. He is happy to work with Parreira’s two assistants, Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane.
Said Santana: ”I have worked with Leal before and we get on well as we share the same football philosophy. Carlos told me that Pitso is a very competent coach so there is no need for me to change them.”
South African Football Association chief executive officer Raymond Hack stated that Santana’s appointment was unanimous and that his work permit was in order.
On Wednesday, Santana will name his squad to play Nigeria in the opening African Nations Cup group four qualifier in Abuja on June 1.
By then he would have had time to discuss the squad with Leal and Mosimane. — Sapa