WHILE Carlos Queiroz is reported to have backtracked on his decision to quit as Iran coach, a Safa insider says he is in the running for the Bafana Bafana job.
"We are aware of the media reports that Carlos has backtracked on his decision, but watch this space," said the insider, who asked to remain anonymous.
"The man is still in the mix despite the whole media reports about him keen on a contract extension with Iran football authorities. The man did well with Bafana Bafana in 2002 and some of us are excited that he has been shortlisted."
But Safa president Danny Jordaan has been quoted as saying Queiroz was out of the running.
While Queiroz has been quoted as saying he wanted to stay with the Iran national team, the former Bafana coach is somewhat frustrated that he had not received a concrete offer from the Iranian Football Association.
"I fell in love with them [the players]. But you can't have a marriage when only one person wants to stay married," Queiroz said after the 3-1 World Cup loss to Bosnia.
"We have to negotiate about the contract in the details. I wish to stay as Iran coach," Queiroz told the Tehran Times.
The paper said the deal between Queiroz and the Iranian FA would be completed on August 1. "The Iranians will always stay in my heart. I like to continue my job but the deal has not yet [been] finalised."
Safa technical committee, led by Natasha Tsichlas, was expected to meet late yesterday to narrow down the shortlist to three candidates.
The national football governing body will announce the new coach after an executive committee meeting on Saturday.
Safa head of communications Dominic Chimhavi yesterday would not say who would replace Gordon Igesund as Bafana coach.
"Isn't it that a new coach will be announced on Saturday? I know that, you know about this ... and I'm surprised you even asked me who would be the coach. I will only know on Saturday," said Chimhavi, who was somewhat irritated by the question.
"Everything is in the capable hands of our president, [Jordaan] and let's respect the process and wait until Saturday."
Asked to comment about Queiroz's about-turn, Chimhavi said they would not comment on an individual. He would also not be drawn to confirm about the number of coaches who have been shortlisted.
But Sowetan understands that apart from Queiroz, Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba and Stephen Keshi have been shortlisted for the job.
Mashaba threw a cat among the pigeons when he made himself available for the job last week.
Keshi led Nigeria to the World Cup finals in Brazil where they bombed out in the second round. Queiroz helped Bafana qualify for the 2002 World Cup before he was fired. He steered Iran to their fourth World Cup by instilling steely defence and cleverly scouring the Iranian diaspora for attacking players. - Additional reporting by Reuters
Three-way race for SA
WHILE Carlos Queiroz is reported to have backtracked on his decision to quit as Iran coach, a Safa insider says he is in the running for the Bafana Bafana job.
"We are aware of the media reports that Carlos has backtracked on his decision, but watch this space," said the insider, who asked to remain anonymous.
"The man is still in the mix despite the whole media reports about him keen on a contract extension with Iran football authorities. The man did well with Bafana Bafana in 2002 and some of us are excited that he has been shortlisted."
But Safa president Danny Jordaan has been quoted as saying Queiroz was out of the running.
While Queiroz has been quoted as saying he wanted to stay with the Iran national team, the former Bafana coach is somewhat frustrated that he had not received a concrete offer from the Iranian Football Association.
"I fell in love with them [the players]. But you can't have a marriage when only one person wants to stay married," Queiroz said after the 3-1 World Cup loss to Bosnia.
"We have to negotiate about the contract in the details. I wish to stay as Iran coach," Queiroz told the Tehran Times.
The paper said the deal between Queiroz and the Iranian FA would be completed on August 1. "The Iranians will always stay in my heart. I like to continue my job but the deal has not yet [been] finalised."
Safa technical committee, led by Natasha Tsichlas, was expected to meet late yesterday to narrow down the shortlist to three candidates.
The national football governing body will announce the new coach after an executive committee meeting on Saturday.
Safa head of communications Dominic Chimhavi yesterday would not say who would replace Gordon Igesund as Bafana coach.
"Isn't it that a new coach will be announced on Saturday? I know that, you know about this ... and I'm surprised you even asked me who would be the coach. I will only know on Saturday," said Chimhavi, who was somewhat irritated by the question.
"Everything is in the capable hands of our president, [Jordaan] and let's respect the process and wait until Saturday."
Asked to comment about Queiroz's about-turn, Chimhavi said they would not comment on an individual. He would also not be drawn to confirm about the number of coaches who have been shortlisted.
But Sowetan understands that apart from Queiroz, Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba and Stephen Keshi have been shortlisted for the job.
Mashaba threw a cat among the pigeons when he made himself available for the job last week.
Keshi led Nigeria to the World Cup finals in Brazil where they bombed out in the second round. Queiroz helped Bafana qualify for the 2002 World Cup before he was fired. He steered Iran to their fourth World Cup by instilling steely defence and cleverly scouring the Iranian diaspora for attacking players. - Additional reporting by Reuters
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