Igesund rejects ‘new mandate’
BAFANA Bafana coach Gordon Igesund blew his top yesterday when it was put to him that his employers expected him to win the African Nations Championship next year.
BAFANA Bafana coach Gordon Igesund blew his top yesterday when it was put to him that his employers expected him to win the African Nations Championship next year.
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, the vice-president of the South African Football Association (Safa), told a TV sports programme at the weekend that Igesund had the task of winning the championship — a non-Fifa tournament for local-based players — which is to be held here from January 11 to February 1.
Bafana, having qualified as hosts, are in Group A and will face Mali, Nigeria and Mozambique. Each team participating in the tournament will have to make do without their European contingent.
Despite Safa president Danny Jordaan contradicting his deputy by saying mandates for all national team coaches were yet to be discussed, Igesund hit out at Nonkonyana for suggesting the coach “should do the honourable thing” if Bafana Bafana do not win the competition.
“It’s absolute nonsense,” said Igesund, minutes after returning from Agadir, where Bafana held Morocco to a 1-1 draw on Friday night in an international friendly. “I don’t know where he gets that. I’ve got no mandates at this moment. I have a contract with Safa until (July) 2014.
“I had two mandates when I took on the job — to reach the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations and to get the team to the World Cup in Brazil. But I did not achieve those, and Safa seem to enjoy the work that I do because I still have a contract until next year. I am not prepared to discuss any mandates.”
Igesund could not commit to a target for the African Nations Championship yesterday. He said it would be hasty to discuss his desire for the tournament because he was still to get confirmation on which Premier Soccer League players would be available. The PSL has not completely made room for the tournament, having scheduled matches during the knockout stages.
“We are in a tough group, but after our game against Morocco, I now have a clearer idea of where we are going. But it would be premature for me to put a mandate for the tournament. A lot could still change because I still have to sit down with (Safa CEO) Dennis Mumble to dis- cuss which players are available. I want the best players locally to take part because this is a serious tournament,” said Igesund.
He said he would not get into a “bun fight” with PSL clubs to release players in January. He confirmed that Bafana would use the Fifa dates next month to schedule friendly matches against African opposition to prepare for the championship.
“But it is difficult to get opponents because most of them have qualified for this tournament. We will try get a team that is not in our group, and if we don’t get an African team then it doesn’t matter because what is important is for me to get the team together and plan for this big tournament,” said Igesund.
Jordaan did not let the coach entirely off the hook. He has appointed a committee tasked with perusing reports submitted by all national team coaches on their successes and failures. The committee is made up of former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe, Farouk Khan, Greg Mashilo and chairwoman Natasha Tsichlas.