SAFA has made finding a new technical director its number one priority in the coming weeks, though at the moment the mother body has no candidates in mind.
The organisation had pinned its hopes on Steve Komphela taking up the role after tagging him as the "ideal" man for the job, but they have been stunned by his decision not to take up the position.
Sowetan understands that Safa are now mulling over the appointment of a German technical director, who would come recommended and paid for by the German Football Association as part of the exchange programme that exists between the two organisations.
Safa head of communications Dominic Chimhavi would not be drawn on the German link, but says the national executive committee (NEC) is desperate to fill the post, but has been left with few options.
"No other candidates have been identified at this stage and it is about now going back to the drawing board and the NEC, discussing what options are available."
It is fair to say that Komphela's presentation to Safa's NEC, when hoping to become head coach of the national side, might have scuppered those plans - and instead earmarked him as the perfect candidate for the role of technical director.
"When the NEC saw the presentation made by Komphela they thought this was a godsend, it was perfect for the role of technical director and exactly what they wanted. They pinned all their hopes on him. At this stage there is no plan B," says Chimhavi.
Safa want the new technical director to help to create a national identity for the SA national teams and to structure coaching programmes throughout the country that will be uniform in how they train up-and-coming stars.
This was a process that was started by former technical director Serame Letsoaka, who left the position last month at the end of his contract after deciding he had taken the process as far as he could.
It is a philosophy that would perhaps fly in the face of any move to appoint a German technical director, unless he was exceptionally well-schooled in the South African domestic game.
The mother body have an exchange agreement with Germany's DFB that saw Michael Nees appointed to the post of technical director in 2008.
But he was swiftly moved on to the role of director of Safa's coaching education to accommodate Letsoaka after Fifa recommended that a local coach should fill the role.
Technical boss needed for SA football
SAFA has made finding a new technical director its number one priority in the coming weeks, though at the moment the mother body has no candidates in mind.
The organisation had pinned its hopes on Steve Komphela taking up the role after tagging him as the "ideal" man for the job, but they have been stunned by his decision not to take up the position.
Sowetan understands that Safa are now mulling over the appointment of a German technical director, who would come recommended and paid for by the German Football Association as part of the exchange programme that exists between the two organisations.
Safa head of communications Dominic Chimhavi would not be drawn on the German link, but says the national executive committee (NEC) is desperate to fill the post, but has been left with few options.
"No other candidates have been identified at this stage and it is about now going back to the drawing board and the NEC, discussing what options are available."
It is fair to say that Komphela's presentation to Safa's NEC, when hoping to become head coach of the national side, might have scuppered those plans - and instead earmarked him as the perfect candidate for the role of technical director.
"When the NEC saw the presentation made by Komphela they thought this was a godsend, it was perfect for the role of technical director and exactly what they wanted. They pinned all their hopes on him. At this stage there is no plan B," says Chimhavi.
Safa want the new technical director to help to create a national identity for the SA national teams and to structure coaching programmes throughout the country that will be uniform in how they train up-and-coming stars.
This was a process that was started by former technical director Serame Letsoaka, who left the position last month at the end of his contract after deciding he had taken the process as far as he could.
It is a philosophy that would perhaps fly in the face of any move to appoint a German technical director, unless he was exceptionally well-schooled in the South African domestic game.
The mother body have an exchange agreement with Germany's DFB that saw Michael Nees appointed to the post of technical director in 2008.
But he was swiftly moved on to the role of director of Safa's coaching education to accommodate Letsoaka after Fifa recommended that a local coach should fill the role.
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