Johannesburg – Newly-appointed Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba will not be sacked if the national team does not qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the SA Football Association (Safa) says.
“We will not say to Shakes that he must qualify for Morocco 2015,” Safa president Danny Jordaan said on Friday.
“That is not his mandate. The mandate is to build a sustainable Bafana Bafana team for the next few years.”
Mashaba was named as the man in charge of the senior national team on July 26, but was on duty with the national under-20's in West Africa at the time.
The 64-year-old replaces outgoing boss Gordon Igesund, whose contract expires at the end of August and would not be renewed.
Igesund was handed a stern mandate when he was hired in 2012, which included ensuring Bafana Bafana qualified for the 2014 Fifa World Cup, while reaching the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mashaba, however, was firmer in his aspirations.
“I want us to kill it now, I don't want it to come later. My mandate is automatic. There is nowhere as a coach where you take a team and want to lose,” Mashaba said.
“I've got a CV to enhance? I heard the president saying that there is no pressure. But I know the pressure is there of winning.”
Meanwhile, Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble, confirmed Mashaba would remain in charge of the national under-20 team for the rest of the month, in order to oversee two crucial African Youth Championship qualification games.
Amajita take on Cameroon on August 16 in Yaounde, Cameroon, before returning to South Africa for the second leg to be played two weeks after, at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Mashaba said he had no choice but to continue due to time constraints, but was delighted to still be involved with his beloved junior ranks.
“If people expect me to disband this program of the under-20s, you're making a mistake.
“I've got to see it up to the end. They are so close to me.” – Sapa