FOLLOWING their damp squib against Mauritania at Mbombela Stadium on Friday, no one would blame the SA Football Association (Safa) for firing Bafana Bafana’s coach, Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba.
As things stand, Mashaba will sit on the Bafana Bafana bench as head coach possibly for the last time tomorrow, according to well-placed sources at Safa House.
In fact, Mashaba has apparently been advised by some knowledgeable Safa executives to enjoy tomorrow night’s Nelson Mandela Challenge against Egypt at Orlando Stadium (7pm) as his farewell party.
Sunday Sun reported yesterday that Safa boss Dennis Mumble and a special task team would meet today to draft a report about Mashaba’s less-than-impressive stint as Bafana coach since 2014. This report will be presented to top Safa executives on Saturday – after president Danny Jordaan demanded answers.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to conclude that the task team’s report will suggest that Mashaba be excused from his contract to avoid further embarrassment in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers starting next month.
Two things Mashaba has done with determination and distinction are countering newspaper headlines and highlighting everything written about him that he doesn’t like. The attitude extends to radio and TV too.
Last week he lashed out without any provocation, ordering the media to stop calling him “arrogant” – although his pre-and-post match comments would suggest he is.
Bafana failed to qualify for the Championship of African Nations, failed to make it to the 2017 Afcon in Gabon and now Mashaba claims to be ready to qualify for the World Cup. DOES SAFA BELIEVE HIM?
Our mole told Daily Sun yesterday that Jordaan was hellbent on getting answers from Mashaba and Mumble. “It is about time they wielded the axe and used the big broom that sweeps clean,” a Safa executive told SunSport yesterday.
“Making things worse, Mashaba does not show any remorse and is still claiming he did nothing wrong in his mandate, as the World Cup qualifiers are still ahead. I think he wants a fat payout – but that he will not see.”
Jordaan said yesterday he would be guided by the report: “I would be lying to the nation if I said I was happy. No one is actually happy.”
It is unclear if Under-23 coach Owen Da Gama will retain his job as Bafana assistant, but Thabo Senong (U-20) and Molefi Ntseki (U-17) are most likely to be retained.
