25/04/2008 22:01

Parreira said in an interview with the Brazilian daily O Globo published on Thursday: "I really wanted to play that World Cup (South Africa 2010). This is the first time I have failed to fulfill a contract."

He denied that his resignation - officially announced on Monday - was due to a serious illness allegedly affecting his wife, Leila.

'I have won several titles'

Only days before Santana leaves Flamengo to take over from Parreira, Santana tried to calm the fans of the 2010 World Cup host after some South African media raised doubts about his lack of international experience.

"I have won several titles during my career, and that qualifies me for this post," Santana said.

The Brazilian acknowledged that he is not internationally famous, but stressed that his lengthy experience will make him a good replacement for his compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira.

"In football you have to be ready for any challenge. I understand that they do not know me, but I am at Flamengo, one of the world's great clubs where I have a successful record. I was South American champion with Vasco da Gama," he added.

At 59, Santana weighs every answer carefully, perhaps a little wary about the negative reaction to his planned exit by Flamengo fans.

'Have been proper'

In fact, the coach's South African offer found Flamengo at an important moment, with the team getting ready to play Botafogo in a two-leg final for the Rio de Janeiro championship.

Surprised by the offer himself, Santana explained that he chose to make it public just as soon as it had become concrete.

"There was already something by the weekend, but things evolved a lot between Sunday and Monday, and that is why I chose to inform Flamengo, so that the news did not leak some other way first. I have always been very proper with those who hired me," he said.

But that concern did not prevent the news from prompting strong protests among fans. On Wednesday, in Flamengo's 2-0 victory over Coronel Bolognesi in the Copa Libertadores, there were banners on the stands of Maracana stadium calling the coach a "mercenary."

Santana, however, insisted that the attractive financial aspects - of which he declined to give details - were not his main reason to accept the offer.

'Language of football is the same'

Santana said: "I'm not a child, I have lived through a lot and I know that an opportunity like this may never show up again."

Used to performing football miracles - last year he pulled Flamengo out of relegation zone in the Brazilian championship and took the team up to third place in just five months - Santana does not fear facing adaptation problems in South Africa.

"The language of football is the same anywhere in the world. What changes is the tactical and technical aspects and I am ready for that," Santana stressed.

Although he admitted that he does not know his future players, the coach said he is confident that he can obtain good results at the helm of the Bafana Bafana.

"I know the potential of African players, and I know the country has the human elements to do a good job in the World Cup. The country's expectation is very great, and I want to help them in that effort." -Sapa-dpa