Parreira is Back

October 26 - After losing eight out of its nine last games, Bafana Bafana's Brazilian coach, Joel Santana left his post on Monday.

The team, which is is preparing for the World Cup in 2010 as the host of the tournament, was in shock and management needed to act quickly.

As a result, the team has reappointed Alberto Parreira who quit 18 months ago, quoting personal reasons.

"It was not easy for this executive committee to arrive at this decision," said the president of the South African Football Association, Kirsten Nematandani. "I am pleased on behalf of the executive committee to announce to you that after that lengthy debate that we had, we want to announce that the country has a coach - and that coach is Mr. Perreira."

The Brazilian has signed an eight month deal that will see him prepare Bafana Bafana for the World Cup and see the South African football team through the tournament.

"It does not stop there and we felt that it was very important because of the time that we have to ensure that he comes in as soon as possible and takes the process forward," said Nematandani.

"There were a number of candidates, but we felt that if we had to go through the process, we may run up against time," she said. "You will understand that this is a person that had started this process. The players we are looking at now are his players."

"We felt that logically after we didn't have time, it was best to get somebody who will continue with the process he has started."

In the meantime, President Jacob Zuma said that the country had weakened the Bafana Bafana team by changing coaches so many times.

"You cannot change coaches so much and hope the team is going to escape, impossible and this our mistake," he said at a fundraising dinner in Johannesburg on the weekend.

Tell A Friend