Kalusha backs Renard for Bafana job

“He is a top coach, I got Herve Renard to Zambia and he is one of the best coaches I have ever seen,” said Bwalya, the president of the Zambian FA.

“He can get the best out of players, he has very good tactical awareness, he is very hard on the pitch but a gentleman off it, and that is why he is successful. If you look at the way Morocco played (at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations), they were a revelation.”

Bwalya was spending a day in Johannesburg yesterday before returning to Zambia for the conclusion of the 2017 Under-20 Caf Africa Cup of Nations.

Zambia and South Africa have both qualified for a place in the Fifa Under-20 World Cup and meet in the semifinals today.

South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan is also in Zambia, partly to cheer on Amajita but also seemingly to conclude a deal for a new coach, with Renard heavily linked to the job, despite being contracted to Morocco until the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Safa yesterday cancelled a press conference in Johannesburg, saying Jordaan was in Zambia “to attend to other issues”.

Renard has a wife and child who live in Lusaka, but according to Bwalya, the Frenchman himself has not attended the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

“He is not there – not so far,” added Bwalya.

“I spoke with him during the tournament, but we did not talk about other things, just about how Zambia have done (at the Under-20 tournament). He is pleased for us.”

Ironically, while Jordaan searches for a new coach, today is the day when former head coach Shakes Mashaba’s CCMA hearing for unfair dismissal is scheduled to begin.

Mashaba was fired by Safa just before Christmas for gross misconduct, gross insubordination and a violation of Safa policy.

Safa had suspended Mashaba following a public outburst in the wake of Bafana’s 2-1 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying win over Senegal in Polokwane in November.

Mashaba is seeking reinstatement in his post as head coach of Bafana and failing that, financial compensation.