Molefi Ntseki has been offered a role within the Bafana Bafana set-up despite his rather bizarre public sacking a month ago, the Siya crew has learnt.
Molefi Ntseki has been offered a role within the Bafana Bafana set-up despite his rather bizarre public sacking a month ago, the Siya crew has learnt.
Following the failure to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations after the draw against Ghana and defeat away to Sudan, the coach was dismissed in the most unusual fashion with only the SAFA chief executive officer, Tebogo Motlanthe, and NEC member Jack Maluleka addressing the media while president Danny Jordaan was a notable absentee.
Ntseki had also not been present when news that he was being dismissed was announced to the media and the public.
It’s understood he found out through the media that he was dismissed.
But indications are that the coach could still be part of the federation’s plans moving forward with Siya sources informing the crew that Ntseki has been offered the national team assistant coach position or to become Technical Director, a post that was advertised some seven days or so after he was fired.
So it appears he is being redeployed and his sacking is being retracted.
This may very well throw a spanner in the works in SAFA’s search for Ntseki’s successor as this suggests the coach would have to be willing to labour side by side with someone who has effectively taken his job.
And, vice versa, will the incoming coach – be it Benni McCarthy, Hugo Broos or any other candidate for that matter – be open to having Ntseki in their technical team, given he is their predecessor and was perhaps dismissed unfairly?
Reports in March suggested the SAFA hierarchy was split on Ntseki’s sacking, with news that an emergency meeting was held for the NEC to vote on whether the coach should stay or go, though Motlanthe denied the urgent caucus took place.
SAFA are yet to confirm the identity of the next Bafana coach, so it remains to be seen whether Ntseki will indeed be part of his backroom staff.
Both SAFA and Ntseki’s camp could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.
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