20 October 2009

JOEL Natalino Santana’s turbulent 16-month reign as national team coach finally came to an end when he was fired by his South African Football Association (Safa) employers yesterday.

Insiders told Business Day that Santana’s departure had paved the way for his Brazilian compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira to make a dramatic return after dumping Bafana last April.

“Depending on what happens in discussions in the coming days, Parreira should be confirmed as the new coach after the Safa executive committee meeting on Friday,” the insider said. “I can assure you he will replace Santana. Santana did not see it coming.” He was not aware he would be fired when he was called to Safa headquarters yesterday morning.

“He was so shocked when he was told that a decision was taken to relieve him of his duties that he became emotional. But after he regained his composure, he wished Bafana Bafana well.”

The Brazilian maintained since last week that even though he presided over a shocking run of eight defeats from nine matches, culminating with the loss to lowly Iceland last Tuesday, there was no way Safa could fire him for losing friendlies.

But it seems his fiery outburst just minutes after landing at OR Tambo International Airport after an overnight flight from Iceland made Safa’s decision easier as they could not wait to get rid of him.

Safa CEO Raymond Hack said Santana’s assistants, Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane, would assume the reins as caretaker coaches with immediate effect until a new coach was appointed.

“Santana thanked Safa for giving him the opportunity to coach a national soccer team, and wished Bafana Bafana success in the Soccer World Cup next year,” Hack said.

Parreira quit the Bafana coaching job last April, citing his wife’s ill health as the reason. The Safa insider said the Brazilian had indicated to him that he was keen to return to his old job on condition that Santana was no longer the coach.

But a cagey Safa president Kirsten Nematandani said they would cast their net wide, and the new coach could be a local or an international mentor.

Nematandani said the reports from the three assessors — Jomo Sono, Clive Barker and Gavin Hunt — were not a critique of Santana but rather of the national team as a whole.

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