Mashaba’s dual roles questioned

THE SA Football Association (Safa) have acknowledged that there might be some red flags surrounding national team coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba and assistant Owen da Gama’s continued role as coaches of the Nedbank Ke Yona team, but did not want to comment further yesterday.

Mashaba and Da Gama have continued in their role with the Ke Yona development team, which scours for young talent, then pits its players against Premier Soccer League and National First Division teams.

Several Ke Yona players have been spotted and signed by professional sides because of the initiative, begun by Nedbank in 2012. Mashaba, Da Gama and Mike Mangena are the coaches and selectors.

Safa communications manager Dominic Chimhavi said chief executive Dennis Mumble did not want to comment yesterday on any potential conflict of interest for Mashaba and Da Gama remaining with Ke Yona since being appointed Bafana Bafana coach and assistant in August last year.

“All I can say is Safa does believe there might be an issue with it, and we are dealing with it,” Chimhavi said.

The contentious issue is around whether a national coach drawing a considerable salary from Safa should also be paid for being part of the Ke Yona initiative. There is also a potential conflict of interest for national coaches to be involved in a development programme.