BAFANA coach Gordon Igesund blew his top yesterday when it was put to him that his employers expected him to win the African Nations Championship (CHAN) early next year.
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, the SA Football Association (Safa) vice-president, told a TV sports programme at the weekend that Igesund was tasked with winning the CHAN - a non-Fifa tournament for local-based players - which is to be held in South Africa from January 11 to February 1.
Bafana, having qualified as hosts, are in Group A and will face Mali, Nigeria and Mozambique. Each team participating in the CHAN will have to make do without their European contingent.
Despite Safa president Danny Jordaan contradicting his deputy by saying mandates for all national team coaches were yet to be discussed, Igesund hit out at Nonkonyana for suggesting the coach "should do the honourable thing..." if Bafana do not win the competition.
"It's absolute nonsense," said Igesund, minutes after returning from Agadir, where Bafana held Morocco to a 1-1 draw on Friday night in an international friendly.
"I don't know where he gets that. I've got no mandates at this moment. I have a contract with Safa until [July] 2014.
"I had two mandates when I took on the job - to reach the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations and to get the team to the World Cup in Brazil. But I did not achieve those, and Safa seem to enjoy the work that I do because I still have a contract until next year. I am not prepared to discuss any mandates."
Igesund could not commit to a target for the CHAN yesterday. He said it would be hasty to discuss his desire for the tournament because he was still to get confirmation on which Premier League players would be available.
The PSL has not completely made room for the tournament, having scheduled matches during the CHAN knockout stages. "We are in a tough group, but after our game against Morocco, I now have a clearer idea of where we are going moving forward.
"But it would be premature for me to put a mandate for the tournament. A lot could still change because I still have to sit down with [Safa CEO] Dennis Mumble to discuss which players are available. I want the best players locally to take part because this is a serious tournament," said Igesund.
The coach said he would not get into a "bun fight" with PSL clubs to release players in January. He also confirmed that Bafana would use the Fifa dates next month to schedule friendly matches against African opposition to prepare for the CHAN.
"But it is difficult to get opponents because most of them have qualified for this tournament. We will try get a team that is not in our group, and if we don't get an African team then it doesn't matter because what is important is for me to get the team together and plan for this big tournament," said Igesund.
Safa president Jordaan did not let the coach entirely off the hook. He has appointed a technical committee tasked with perusing reports submitted by all national team coaches on their successes and failures. The committee is made up of former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe, Farouk Khan, Greg Mashilo and chairperson Natasha Tsichlas.
Chan ultimatum upsets Igesund
BAFANA coach Gordon Igesund blew his top yesterday when it was put to him that his employers expected him to win the African Nations Championship (CHAN) early next year.
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, the SA Football Association (Safa) vice-president, told a TV sports programme at the weekend that Igesund was tasked with winning the CHAN - a non-Fifa tournament for local-based players - which is to be held in South Africa from January 11 to February 1.
Bafana, having qualified as hosts, are in Group A and will face Mali, Nigeria and Mozambique. Each team participating in the CHAN will have to make do without their European contingent.
Despite Safa president Danny Jordaan contradicting his deputy by saying mandates for all national team coaches were yet to be discussed, Igesund hit out at Nonkonyana for suggesting the coach "should do the honourable thing..." if Bafana do not win the competition.
"It's absolute nonsense," said Igesund, minutes after returning from Agadir, where Bafana held Morocco to a 1-1 draw on Friday night in an international friendly.
"I don't know where he gets that. I've got no mandates at this moment. I have a contract with Safa until [July] 2014.
"I had two mandates when I took on the job - to reach the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations and to get the team to the World Cup in Brazil. But I did not achieve those, and Safa seem to enjoy the work that I do because I still have a contract until next year. I am not prepared to discuss any mandates."
Igesund could not commit to a target for the CHAN yesterday. He said it would be hasty to discuss his desire for the tournament because he was still to get confirmation on which Premier League players would be available.
The PSL has not completely made room for the tournament, having scheduled matches during the CHAN knockout stages. "We are in a tough group, but after our game against Morocco, I now have a clearer idea of where we are going moving forward.
"But it would be premature for me to put a mandate for the tournament. A lot could still change because I still have to sit down with [Safa CEO] Dennis Mumble to discuss which players are available. I want the best players locally to take part because this is a serious tournament," said Igesund.
The coach said he would not get into a "bun fight" with PSL clubs to release players in January. He also confirmed that Bafana would use the Fifa dates next month to schedule friendly matches against African opposition to prepare for the CHAN.
"But it is difficult to get opponents because most of them have qualified for this tournament. We will try get a team that is not in our group, and if we don't get an African team then it doesn't matter because what is important is for me to get the team together and plan for this big tournament," said Igesund.
Safa president Jordaan did not let the coach entirely off the hook. He has appointed a technical committee tasked with perusing reports submitted by all national team coaches on their successes and failures. The committee is made up of former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe, Farouk Khan, Greg Mashilo and chairperson Natasha Tsichlas.
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