22/04/2008 12:45

Johannesburg - Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper coach Roger de Sa, on Tuesday called on the South African Football Association to appoint Pitso Mosimane to replace Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira as national head coach.

Parreira on Monday resigned as South African head coach due to "family problems."

South African born Mosimane worked under Parreira for 15 months and before that, rebuilt Bafana after the disaster during the 2006 African Nations Cup finals in Egypt where Bafana under caretaker coach Ted Dumitru, failed to score a goal or a win a point in the first round group matches.

De Sa, who has also played for Bafana and now coaches BidVest Wits in the Premier Soccer League, said Mosimane deserved to be promoted.

Safa are set to appoint Brazilian Joel Santana, the coach of Brazilian giants Flamengo, to take over from World Cup winner Parreira.

De Sa, in a no punches pulled interview said: "I do not believe a foreign coach will be the answer. Frankly Pitso has earned the respect and to my mind is the best man for the job. He has worked under Parreira for 15 months and knows the system. What can another foreign coach with no international experience teach him?"

No deal finalised

Santana has won four league titles in Brazil but has very little international coaching experience.

According to reports from Brazil Safa have already signed Santana but Safa chief executive officer Raymond Hack, said on Tuesday no deal had been finalised and that an announcement would be made before May 6 when the new coach is expected to be unveiled.

But said De Sa: "Safa must show some courage and confidence in Mosimane. I cannot understand why they want to bring in another foreign coach when we have good coaches here.

Mosimane did a tremendous job in 1996 after the Nations Cup in Egypt and was being groomed to take over. I believe the time is right for Safa to put faith in local soccer and appoint Mosimane."

De Sa added; "Safa go on and on about developing a young black coach for Bafana. Well now we have a coach who fits the bill. Pitso has all the credentials and should be supported by Safa.

It would be fantastic having a local coach leading Bafana in 2010. Safa will miss a great opportunity to boost local soccer if they fail to give Pitso he job."

De Sa also argues Mosimane knows local players and the culture. Said De Sa: "Parreira relied on Mosimane to help him so why spend a lot of money hiring a foreign coach when that money could be ploughed back into development.

In my opinion bringing a foreign coach for Bafana is a waste of time and money. Foreign coaches do not last. We want a coach with passion and patriotism and that is Mosimane."