South Africa step up coach search

The South African Football Association (SAFA) Technical Committee is ‘very happy’ with the process of finding a new coach.

Under the chairmanship of Fanyana Sibanyoni, the committee completed what it says was the ‘gruelling’ process of interviewing four coaches from its short-list: Neil Tovey, Gavin Hunt, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba and Gordon Igesund.

Caretaker coach Steve Komphela will face the panel on Monday.

Under the watchful eye of auditors Ernst & Young, the prospective candidates were interviewed by Sibanyoni, as well as SAFA technical director Serame Letsoaka, CEO Robin Petersen, Jomo Sono, Clive Barker, Farouk Khan, Buti Mathathe and Suoane Ramashala.

The remaining committee member, Ted Dumitru, was unavailable as he is on business overseas.

“The committee was very happy with the whole exercise and once we finish interviewing Steve, the process of finding a new coach will almost be complete, with only the approval of the SAFA national executive committee remaining,” Sibanyoni said in a statement.