Video footage of Shakes Mashaba arguing with a TV reporter has emerged on social media Monday morning, suggesting that the outburst after South Africa beat Senegal in Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier was part of the reason the Bafana Bafana coach was suspended and told not to travel with the team to Mozambique last night.
SABC touchline reporter Kwena Moabelo and Bafana media officer Mathlomola Morake are seen trying to convince Mashaba to conduct a mandatory post match interview shortly following the 2-1 win over Senegal at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, to which the coach finally agreed to. But the damage was already done.
Here’s a snippet of Shakes Mashaba’s tyrade that looks to have contributed to his suspension, courtesy of SABC News. pic.twitter.com/81stKXllDV
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) November 13, 2016
Prior to the cameras rolling, Mashaba said: “You want me to talk to these people? They had already buried me. All of them. I was waiting for this game so I can talk.”
Morake then attempts to calm the coach down by explaining that any negative remarks will overshadow the massive win over Group D favourites Senegal. But Mashaba was in no mood to talk and apparently snubbed SuperSport, another TV broadcaster at the venue.
He also kept several local and foreign journalists waiting in the press room for over 45-minutes. A top Safa official said last night the delay was because Mashaba did not want to listen to the association’s president Danny Jordaan congratulating the players in the dressing room.
Safa confirmed through a statement late on Sunday afternoon that Mashaba would face a disciplinary hearing and will not travel to Maputo for tomorrow night’s friendly match against Mozambique.
Assistant coach Owen Da Gama has been temporarily handed the reins, with Mashaba now likely to be given the boot nine months before Bafana are play their next World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde having missed out the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Gabon in January.
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter @superjourno
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Independent Media