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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.
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