Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The Bafana coaching shake-ups
From ‘Mr Fix-It’ and Bra Pitso to the Brazilians and bitter Baxter ... and don’t forget about Ted
SHAKES MASHABA is suspended for his alleged finger- wagging at Safa officials, which included president Danny Jordaan and chief executive officer Dennis Mumble, in Polokwane.
The Bafana Bafana coach failed in his mandate to guide the team to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but made an ideal start on the road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 1- 1 draw in Burkina Faso before beating Senegal 2- 1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium two weeks ago.
Now that Mashaba appears headed for the exit door just over two years into what was supposed to be a four- year journey, takes a look at how six of his predecessors parted ways with Safa and the national team... Gordon Igesund ( 2012- 14) Seen as “Mr Fix-It” when he replaced beleaguered Pitso Mosimane in July 2012, six months before South Africa hosted Afcon, the man currently in charge of Highlands Park in the PSL endured a spell riddled with controversy and some poor results towards the end.
Igesund took over the national team with the hope of rescuing Bafana’s 2014 World Cup qualification, which began with an unsatisfactory start after Mosimane only managed a 1- 1 draw at home against lowly Ethiopia.
He was sacked a day later and Steve Komphela took over the reins away to Botswana, a match which also ended in a 1- 1 stalemate.
Igesund, who was later accused of trying to influence players to ask for excessive bonuses but was never found guilty, reached the quarter-finals of Afcon and his contract was not renewed after the national team failed to book their place at the World Cup. Pitso Mosimane ( 2010- 12) Spent five years in total as a Safa employee and as an apprentice until he was appointed coach shortly after the 2010 World Cup.
H i s time as Bafana coach was full of promise but like Mash- aba, his never- ending squabbles with the press was part of his undoing.
Mosimane was also relieved of his duties two years before his contract was due to expire and took the association to the cleaners and forced them to settle out of court for a wrongful dismissal case.
The amount paid to Mosimane was never disclosed, but it is believed it was around R10 million. Carlos Alberto Parreira (2007-08, 09-10) The only man in this list to have left the hot seat on his own terms – twice.
A 1994 World Cup winner with his native country Brazil, Parreira had only agreed to return for a second spell as Bafana coach to help them in the same global showpiece South Africa hosted six years ago.
He cut ties immediately after and punted Mosimane, who’d been his assistant during both his stints, as an ideal successor. Joel Santana ( 2008- 09) He came highly recommended by his compatriot Par r e i r a, who had r e s i g ned in April 2008 to attend to his ill wife.
Although his record as a club coach was quite formidable, with former Brazil striker Romario naming him as the best mentor he has ever worked under, life in charge of his first national team coaching job was extremely difficult.
It was no surprise when Santana, who hardly spoke a word of English, was sacked prior to the 2010 World Cup for poor results, which included a run of eight defeats in nine matches. Ted Dumitru ( 2005- 06) Seemed like a match made in heaven because of his success in the domestic league with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, until Bafana’s worst-ever showing at an Afcon tournament.
Under the late Dumitru, they failed to score a goal and lost all three of their group matches at the 2006 edition in Egypt. A very short stint, and it was clear for all to see why. Stuart Baxter ( 2004- 05) You get a sense he’s still bitter about it, because he felt he deserved more time despite a botched 2006 World Cup qualification.
The Scot was a surprise appointment given that the four previous Bafana coaches were all local.
He was never quite able to do things his way, but the failure to qualify for any major tournament almost always leads to a sacking.
He returned to South Africa seven years later to coach Chiefs and guided them to two league titles. Baxter is now attempting to build a championship- winning side at SuperSport United.