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BUYING TIME: Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund. Photo: Gallo Images

 A coach's period should always be long term, and ideally when you stretch (the mandate) to two World Cups, then you are probably giving him a better chance of success 

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When he was appointed on a two-year contract as national football coach in June, Igesund was told Bafana Bafana must at least reach the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

On Saturday night they fell agonisingly short, losing on penalties against Mali in the quarterfinals. But he has found people forgiving. One of them is South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani.

"They were the better side (on Saturday night), so to me they have gone into the semifinals but not a recognised semifinal," said Nematandani.

He said Safa was not necessarily letting Igesund off the hook.

"His contract is subject to what is happening around us. We want to be more patient with coaches in future, but at the same time a coach must give you results," he said.

"We gave him a mandate (to reach the semifinals) of the Afcon because we always want to aim high. It was a very clear goal and we saw they were almost there, but not quite."

Nematandani hinted that Igesund could also be given a new target: qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, to be held in Russia.

The football boss said there was "nothing wrong with shifting the goal posts" as long as the coach built on the foundations laid at this Afcon finals.

Nematandani said Igesund, who is a four-time Premier League winner, was "the best in the country".

"You don't want to dismantle something that shows so much potential," said Nematandani. "A coach's period should always be long term, and ideally when you stretch (the mandate) to two World Cups, then you are probably giving him a better chance of success."

Nematandani said he believed in continuity. "In eight years a coach might have more of an impact on a national team. Actually, experts will tell you that a target that is as far ahead as 2022 should be set and we are already nine years from that World Cup," Nematandani said.

Igesund's upcoming challenge is to guide Bafana to next year's World Cup in Brazil. South Africa have two points from two matches after successive draws against Ethiopia and Botswana. Bafana are third in their group.

Central African Republic complete South Africa's group and are Bafana's next opponents on March 22 and again on June 7. A return leg against Ethiopia is set for June 14.

Bafana host Botswana in September.

Comments

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Sat May 25 07:52:17 SAST 2013 ::

Feb 5, 2013

Dubul'Amanzi

Oh ok then,hope he will make a good selection this time around.
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Feb 5, 2013

MGEEZ

"We gave him a mandate (to reach the semifinals) of the Afcon because we always want to aim high. It was a very clear goal and we saw they were almost there, but not quite."
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The mandate was clear and the men just like Pitso and Parrera did not achieve; therefore he must go!!!!
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Feb 5, 2013

Lord-Have-Mercy

Bafana Bafana must be given back to Pitso ukuze ayiqedelele iphele nya
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Feb 5, 2013

Rragwe

i like igesund, he is good motivator,we will defenitly get some good results in future
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Feb 5, 2013

ancnduntsu

@Dubul'ikaka
Oh ok then,hope he will make a good selection this time around
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Spit it out RODENT. U mean your galaxy of RODENTS from RETE FC.
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Feb 5, 2013

ancnduntsu

GI is da man. When was the last time NKC had reached 1/4 finals ? When was the last time NKC had won a match in da AFCON?

PS: Take us 2 Brazil GI. I know that RETE FC RETARDS r disappointed now that u've kept your job.
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Feb 5, 2013

Bizzabo

Rragwe
i like igesund, he is good motivator,we will defenitly get some good results in future
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Morena motivation only does not win you games. we need a coach with a vision, good tactical approach to the game and an understanding of the techinicalities involved in the game. GI is just a quick fix person as far as I am concerned.

We will be always showing our hands and have secrets up our sleeves with dream teams but not achieve anything tangible with this man. those are his famous words. why give him 18months?

Khompela is my man
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Feb 5, 2013

ancnduntsu

@MGEEZ
"We gave him a mandate (to reach the semifinals) of the Afcon because we always want to aim high. It was a very clear goal and we saw they were almost there, but not quite."
================================================================================
The mandate was clear and the men just like Pitso and Parrera did not achieve; therefore he must go!!!!
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A contract is not cast in stone/iron. It can always b revisted depending on prevailing circumstances.
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Feb 5, 2013

Bdoobs

Igesund cannot be blamed for BB's poor showing, not even Pep can help these boy, in fact, why are we talking about Brazil 2014 while we only managed draws at home against African teams. IF we get to Brazil, god forbid, we will be praying to get into a "easy group" and trying hard not to loose by big margin against world class teams in a foreign land.
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Feb 5, 2013

ancnduntsu

@Bizzabo
Rragwe
i like igesund, he is good motivator,we will defenitly get some good results in future
------------------------------

Morena motivation only does not win you games. we need a coach with a vision, good tactical approach to the game and an understanding of the techinicalities involved in the game. GI is just a quick fix person as far as I am concerned.

We will be always showing our hands and have secrets up our sleeves with dream teams but not achieve anything tangible with this man. those are his famous words. why give him 18months?

Khompela is my man
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Your anger is blinding your pea sized brain's cognition. Allow GI 2 select players as he deems fit( and not your galaxy of RODENTS from RETE FC).
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