Bra Shakes!

There are mixed feelings about Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Bra Shakes” Mashaba’s reaction after his 2-1 victory over Senegal on Saturday at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Mashaba caught everybody by surprise when he publicly criticised media and allegedly his employers for not supporting him when the team was going through difficult times.

The coach had to be calmed down before his post-match interview with an SABC presenter as he was totally refusing to do so. He was spitting fire and accusing the media of negative reporting about him.

In a short video that’s making the rounds on social media in which Mashaba is talking to an SABC Sport presenter he could be heard saying: ”This is my second life. These people (media) had already buried me. You had a moment when you were celebrating I was also waiting for this moment and now it’s my moment to celebrate.”

In September, Mashaba's team failed to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mauritania. Some people were disappointed with that and started to lose trust in him.

The 65-year-old’s relationship with the South African Football Association was not healthy either even when he was first appointed as coach the national team in 2004.

He was dismissed for refusing to recall some overseas based players who had asked to be excused from a training camp ahead of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.

He also refused to call some players for a friendly match against England in 2003. So this is not something new. The country needs to understand that this is Bra’ Shakes Mashaba!