Samson Siasia has reportedly been omitted from the shortlist
of candidates for the vacant South Africa’s Bafana Bafana job.
The developments came just days after the former Super
Eagles manager missed out on the vacant Rwanda job and Orlando Pirates
manager’s post, which has been given to 54-year-old Swede Kjell Jonevret.
Siasia was one of
the 62 coaches who
submitted their CVs to the South
African Football Association to be considered for the Bafana role, which has
been vacant since Ephraim Mashaba was
fired in December last year for
misconduct‚ insubordination and violating SAFA’s communications policy.
And SAFA last week set up a committee, including Bafana greats Lucas Radebe, Benni
McCarthy and Neil Tovey, to help in finding a coach for the national team.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer
Dennis Mumble confirmed on Tuesday that the committee had recommended five of the coaches who applied for the job.
“We’ve got a shortlist, we’re down to five (candidates),” Mumble was quoted by Kickoff as saying.
“We can’t tell you the names yet because we still have to
speak to them – we haven’t spoken to them.”
However, reports in the South African media on Tuesday
listed Belgian coach Hugo Broos‚ who guided Cameroon to glory at
the Gabon 2017 Africa Nations Cup,
Morocco’s French coach Herve
Renard, who led Zambia to their 2012 AFCON triumph and helped and Ivory Coast
to become African champions for the second time in
2015‚ former Real Madrid manager Carlos Queiroz, Stuart Baxter and former England manager Roy
Hodgson as the coaches who made the
shortlist for the job.
Our correspondent learnt that 64-year-old Bross is the clear favourite
for the post as SAFA wants a manager who has won the Africa Cup of
Nations. Herve also has a chance to seal the job.
“Absolutely, we said we have a target, and we are confident
that we are going to conclude our search by the end of the month,” Mumble said.
“Out of the five, I’m sure we are going to come up with one.
My task now is to go and get some of the basic terms, articulate it to the
candidates that we’ve identified, that we want to approach.”
With South Africa job hopes gone, former Nigeria
forward Siasia will turn his attention
to other parts of the continent for a job.
A number of national
coaches’ jobs are under
threat following their teams’ poor
performances at the Gabon 2017 AFCON.
Callisto Pasuwa was sacked following Zimbabwe’s group stage exit at the tournament.
Mali’s French manager Alan Girese’s job is also under threat
following his team’s poor showing in Gabon.
Ghana are also seeking a replacement for Israeli coach Avram Grant, who called it quits
with the Black Stars after they finished fourth in Gabon.
Siasia, who spoke with
our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday, expressed his
disappointment over the development.
“Yes, I’m disappointed but I wish them luck,” the former
Lokeren star, who is currently out of work after helping Nigeria win bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s
football event, said.
“They probably prefer white coaches and I don’t have any
problem with that.
“I will take any
opportunity that comes my way – to coach a
foreign team.”
The Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner added, “My
agent is exploring other opportunities
and it depends on what he gets. I have
no regrets applying for the job.”
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