Safa issue bizarre statement on Benni and Bafana

“We have noted that various publications over the last week have reported the appointment of new Bafana Bafana coach as having been concluded,” read the statement.

“Firstly, it was Carlos Queiroz then Pitso Mosimane and most recently AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy.

“SAFA has always stated that the Technical Committee will submit their final recommendations to the SAFA NEC, the highest decision-making body, which will finally make the announcement once the process is concluded.

“We note that the Benni McCarthy’s name comes at a time when AmaZulu are top of the log standings and it might appear that SAFA wants to derail the club’s good run.

“We are happy with AmaZulu’s current good run but SAFA will announce the new incoming coach once the issue is dealt with by the NEC.”

This statement is even more odd if one considers that just a couple of days earlier, Safa announced that they had found a new head coach, and that they would make an announcement this week.

“We have concluded and finalised all the outstanding matters, and we will announce the new head coach next week,” said Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe on Friday.

The City Press newspaper on Sunday said that McCarthy was set to be announced on Wednesday, to take over at the end of the season, presumably so as not to upset his title tilt with AmaZulu.