21/04/2008 16:21

Johannesburg - South Africa soccer coach Carlos Alberto Parreira resigned on Monday to return to Brazil to be with his family and ill wife, leaving the national team in disarray just two years before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup.

"My family needs me, especially my wife needs me to be near her," Parreira told a news conference. "After 36 years of marriage, I can't say No."

Soccer federation president Molefi Oliphant said Parreira wanted to be with his wife, Leila.

"The coach has dilemma, a family dilemma," he said. "The health of his wife has deteriorated."

Parreira told the news conference that he and Safa had come to an amicable decision that he will relinquish the post of head coach from May 2.

"It was a very difficult decision to make but I need to dedicate more time to my family. I will remain available to ensure a smooth transition until the new coach is available and I am also available for consultation as a technical advisor," Parreira said.

Needs to find a balance

"I regret very much that it has come to this but my family needs me, especially my wife. Every human being needs to find balance between their personal and professional lives".

Parreira was hired 16 months ago after resigning as Brazil coach. He put together a young and inexperienced team which suffered a series of poor results and was eliminated in the first round of the African Cup of Nations in Ghana earlier this year. South Africa slumped to 71st in the FIFA rankings.

But Parreira's tactics seemed to be paying off when South Africa beat Paraguay 3-0 in a friendly last month.

Parreira's resignation takes effect on May 2. He will continue as technical advisor, and his two assistant coaches - Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane - will remain.

Parreira said he would help officials find a new coach tasked with building South Africa into a credible force for the 2010 World Cup.

Parreira's reported monthly salary of more than $250 000 caused an outcry in a country battling poverty and unemployment.

He warned the federation against interfering with his coaching methods. The federation has often been blamed for forcing a rapid succession of coaches to quit.

"Thirteen coaches in 13 years is not a good record," Parreira said at his first news conference. "The moment I am not happy or not feeling comfortable, then it is bye bye."