NEXT IN [THE FIRING] LINE

South Africa are seeking a new head coach to take them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and beyond. KICK OFF rates the chances of some of the names that have been mentioned as a possible successor to Shakes Mashaba.

[ HERVE RENARD ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: Morocco NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: Ghana assistant coach (2007-08); Zambia head coach (2008-10, 2011-13); Angola head coach (2010-11); Ivory Coast head coach (2014-15); Morocco head coach (2016- ) RENARD is among the leading coaches on the continent, having won the Nations Cup with Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015). The suave Frenchman is now leading Morocco at the latest installment in Gabon. Having done his apprenticeship under the legendary Claude Le Roy, Renard has cut out his own place in the history of football on the continent. It would be a big pull for SAFA to lure Renard to Bafana Bafana now, having probably missed their chances in the past. The 48-year-old has been open to the role before, but not been considered an option for whatever reason … to the benefit of other nations. He has made an okay start to the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup with two points from two games, which leaves the North Africans two points behind leaders Ivory Coast. With only the top team in the pool advancing that makes it perhaps a tough ask to reach Russia, though whether Renard would feel he has a better or worse chance with Bafana is unknown. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Ice-cold.

[ MILUTIN SREDOJEVIC ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: Uganda NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: Serbia Under-20 head coach (2001); Rwanda head coach (2011-13); Uganda head coach (2013- ) SREDOJEVIC has been roundly praised for getting Uganda to their first Nations Cup finals since 1978 as well as making a positive start to the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. He is no stranger to South African fans, having had a somewhat unsuccessful spell in charge of Orlando Pirates in the mid2000s, but looks to have sharpened his skills since then. He was reportedly sounded out about the vacant post late last year and angrily denied that he would be jumping ship, but he does meet the requirements of SAFA in terms of experience and know-how. His recent record has been good, but that is confined to East Africa and coaching Bafana would bring a whole new set of expectations and pressure on the combustible Serbian. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Lukewarm to hot.

[ GAVIN HUNT ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: Bidvest Wits NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: None HUNT has certainly earned his spurs in the Premier Soccer League and is regarded as among the leading coaches in the domestic game. It is no wonder then that Wits have him tied down to a long-term, lucrative contract as they seek to claim a first league title in the club’s 96-year history. Hunt has long been touted for the national team job and KICK OFF understands that he has been approached as to his availability by SAFA in the recent past. But the 52-year-old is loathe to leave his project at Wits that is beginning to build steam and provides him with good job security and the opportunity to work with long-time associates such as CEO Jose Ferreira. Hunt is also a ‘hands-on’ coach who relishes the day-to-day interaction he gets with players and could be frustrated by the more mundane role of a national team boss that often acts as a glorified scout who has his players for short bursts. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Cold.

[ MUHSIN ERTUGRAL ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: None NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: DR Congo head coach (1995-96) ERTUGRAL’S first job on the African continent was as coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who he led to the 1996 African Nations Cup finals in South Africa. But he walked after a 2-0 opening game defeat to Gabon and was replaced by Lusadusu Basilwa, who took the side to the quarter-finals. Ertugral returned to South Africa in 1999 and had successful spells with Kaizer Chiefs, Ajax Cape Town and Mpumalanga Black Aces, but also a disastrous few months most recently at Orlando Pirates that saw him resign on live television after a 6-1 loss to SuperSport United. Ertugral is a good student of the game and knowledgeable about how to put together winning football teams. However, his run-ins with players and abrasive style of coaching is not to everybody’s taste. Still, he is available, out of work and has ties to South Africa, having been spotted in the country over the Christmas holidays. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Luke-warm.

[ CARLOS QUEIROZ ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: None NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: Portugal Under-20 head coach (1989-91); Portugal head coach (1991-93); United Arab Emirates head coach (1998-99); South Africa head coach (2000-02); Portugal head coach (2008-10); Iran head coach (2011-17) QUEIROZ resigned as coach of Iran in January after six years in charge of the side, though it is not the first time he has done so, only to return later on when his bosses have given him the concessions he wants. That fuelled plenty of speculation that he would return as coach of South African given that he still has strong ties to the country, but there are a number of stumbling blocks to dodge before that. Firstly, his salary package in Iran was generous and SAFA may struggle to match those demands, or even get close. Secondly, Queiroz left Iran in an excellent position, making it both difficult for him to walk away and for his employers to let him leave. But hiring the man who led Bafana Bafana to the World Cup in 2002 before being axed months before the tournament would be a mighty coup for SAFA. He has experience and know-how, and is highly-respected, yet should he become available, there would also be no shortage of suitors for him around the world. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Cold to luke-warm.

[ RUUD KROL ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: None NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: Netherlands Under-21 assistant coach (1991-93); Egypt Under-23 head coach (1994-95); Egypt head coach (1995-96); Netherlands assistant coach (1999-01); Tunisia head coach (2013) KROL ticks a number of boxes for SAFA in terms of what they are looking for in a coach – someone with international experience who understands the rigours of playing on the continent and can qualify teams for major championships. The former Orlando Pirates treblewinning coach has led Egypt and Tunisia in the past, even beating eventual winners Bafana Bafana with the former in the 1996 Nations Cup. He has also coached numerous clubs on the continent, most recently Tunisian side Club Africain, but is now out of work and has spoken of wanting a return to South Africa. After three seasons at Pirates he will also have a deep understanding of what makes South African players ‘tick’ and their own particular foibles. The 67-year-old also carries some international gravitas having been a legend for Ajax Amsterdam and the Netherlands national side during his playing career. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Luke-warm to hot.

[ PITSO MOSIMANE ]

CURRENT EMPLOYER: Mamelodi Sundowns NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: South Africa assistant coach (2006-10); South Africa head coach (2010-12) AFRICAN Coach of the Year Mosimane has already had one bite of the apple, having been appointed Bafana Bafana coach following the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He had spent the previous four years as assistant to the Brazilian duo of Carlos Alberto Parreira and Joel Santana. His spell showed much promise, but petered out when the team failed to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup. Now four years older and wiser, Mosimane has taken his art to a new level and is arguably the most skilled, innovative and successful coach in the country. Yes he heads an all-star cast, but as previous Sundowns coaches have found out, that is no guarantee of success. Mosimane appeared to talk himself out of the running for the Bafana job when he stated in January he was not interested, having recently signed a new four-year contract with Sundowns. But club owner Patrice Motsepe later stated he would not stand in the way of the coach if he wanted the job. Certainly he is well equipped for it, but Mosimane likely has his eye on bigger prizes, like building a career in Europe. BAFANA BAFANA CHANCES: Ice-cold.