Safa's Bafana coach wish list
Brad Morgan
12 April 2006
The South African Football Association (Safa) has released a list of 13 names as possible coaches for Bafana Bafana. The list, populated with big names, shows that Safa has serious ambitions for the national team.
Prominent among the list of possibilities are Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlos Alberto Parreira, both former World Cup winners. Parreira, captain of Brazil's brilliant team of 1970, is believed to be the number one choice of Safa.
Another big name on the list is Sven Goran Eriksson, who will step down as coach of England after the World Cup in Germany later this year.
Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard, coach of Uefa Champions League semi-finalists Barcelona, is also on the list. The 43-year-old played 73 times for the Netherlands and contested the World Cup in 1990 and 1994.
Another Dutchman, Guus Hiddink, was also on the list, but has committed himself to coaching Russia, despite interest from
England.
Patrice Nouveau, who led Cameroon's Indomitable Lions to prominence, and was then in charge of Guinea at this year's African Cup of Nations, features, as does Zambian great Kalusha Bwalya, who recently stepped down as coach of the Zambian national team, citing pressure from politicians.
Stephen Keshi
Former Nigerian captain and coach of Togo, Stephen Keshi, is another possibility. He leads the Togolese to the World Cup for the first time ever this year.
In addition, there is one "Christopher Eghuaven". Strangely, no one seems to know who the man is. Could it be Nigerian coach Austin Eguavon? If so, it doesn't say much about the likelihood of Safa wanting to sign him when his name isn't even correct or spelt correctly.
South African candidates
There are also a considerable number of South African coaching candidates, including former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono, Gordon Igesund - a
winner of the PSL title with three different clubs - Steve Komphela, and Pitso Mosimane, who is currently caretaker coach of Bafana Bafana with Khompela.
It appears, however, that Safa is looking for a foreign coach. Previously the organisation has stated that it is seeking a world-class coach with international experience. Money is reportedly no object.
Appointment after Germany 2006
Safa's technical committee, led by Sturu Pasiya, intends approaching the group of 13 over the next few weeks. The appointment will, however, only be confirmed after this year's World Cup in Germany.
The coach will have to sign a performance contract and his immediate mission will be to qualify for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana. The qualifiers start in 2007.
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