Bafana coaches back in Brazil
2008-07-07 18:53
Johannesburg - While Bafana Bafana's prospects of qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola could be said to be up in flames, coach Joel Santana and his assistant, Jairo Leal, are back in Brazil on a month's holiday siesta instead of wracking their brains on how to put out the fire.
This was confirmed on Monday by South African Football Association (Safa) Communications Director Morio Sanyane, who said the Brazilian duo were expected back in South Africa on August 5 - a mere two weeks before the warm-up international against Australia in London.
But, if anything, it would seem rather Safa than the two coaches, who should be indicted for providing an imitation of "Nero fiddling while Rome burnt" - with the national association sanctioning their trip in spite of the precarious predicament in which Bafana currently finds itself.
"There is presently a lull in the international programme," said Sanyane, "and it was felt it would be best for the coaches to take a break now in view of the busy and critical programme that lies ahead later in the year.
"In addition," said the Safa Communications Director, "Santana's appointment following the shock resignation of Carlos Alberto Parreira, and his consequent arrival in South Africa, was completed so hastily that the coach did not have time to wind up his affairs in Brazil as he was employed by the Flamengo club up to the time of his departure."
Moment of crisis for Bafana
This might seem a valid explanation for Santana going to Brazil for a brief period and a month under the shadow of Rio de Janeiro's famed Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) might well be a more soothing and stimulating way of spending time than being embroiled in the murky hotbed and goings-on of South African soccer.
But this is a veritable moment of crisis for Bafana, not only because of their precarious situation in qualifying for the African Nations Cup, but also with the stark task of compiling an adequate squad for the 2010 World Cup at hand - an endeavour, it would seem, in which hardly a second should be wasted.
Apart from being involved in the ground work of setting up a foundation for Bafana's "SOS Operation" and becoming familiar with South African conditions and players, Santana could have done worse than spent a month improving his English - something that would make his daunting undertaking a great deal easier.
As for Leal, he could have helped Santana to some degree in this process had the coach not gone on an extended stay to Brazil - rather than the assistant coach having gone to Sugar Loaf country with him.
Meanwhile, the key home African Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria, in which South Africa's slim hopes of a place in the 2010 Angola Nations Cup tournament could be detonated entirely, is less than two months away.
- SAPA