‘Disrespectful’ Shakes suspended
BAFANA Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has landed himself in hot water with his employers after a top South African Football Association (Safa) official confirmed that his suspension – pending a disciplinary hearing – was due to a show of disrespect to Danny Jordaan and several top delegates in Polokwane on Saturday.
Jordaan, the Safa president, was at the Peter Mokaba Stadium to watch Bafana beat Senegal 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier and made his way to the dressing room to address the players not long after the final whistle, but was apparently an unwelcome guest, as far as Mashaba was concerned.
The coach told the press in his post-match comments that he knew he was a marked man before the 2018 World Cup qualifier, and is believed to have told Jordaan as much.
Safa confirmed late yesterday that Mashaba would not be travelling with the team to Mozambique for tomorrow night’s international friendly following a “regrettable” incident at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“His (Mashaba) poor relationship with the media is affecting everything he does now,” said a top Safa official last night.
“He was disrespectful towards a number of Safa officials who wanted to congratulate him for the win, and these included Mr Patrice Motsepe (Mamelodi Sundowns owner and billionaire).” Mashaba kept journalists waiting for over 45 minutes at the stadium auditorium and also refused to speak to broadcaster SuperSport after the match, only granting an interview to the SABC.
This has added to a long list of misdemeanours, and the coach will sit before a disciplinary committee in the coming weeks.
Asked if he could be sacked as a result of what transpired in Polokwane, the official said: “This could be the end because the sponsors are also not happy after his behaviour yesterday.”