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Only local coaches for SA

Johannesburg - The South African Football Association (SAFA) has told the Siya crew that the country's national soccer teams should only have local coaches from here on forward.

SAFA’s second vice-president Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko told the Siya crew in East London, where the Metropolitan Under-16 Schools Tournament took place, that for South Africa to have an identity of their own unique style of soccer, all the national team coaches should be selected from within our own country.

He explained that is the reason why former Orlando Pirates' star Tebogo Moloi is the Metropolitan Under-16 Schools Tournament ambassador, so as to help select the players who are eligible to play in the under-17 national team, Amajimbos.

“We have Pitso Mosimane as coach of the senior national team, Shakes Mashaba for under-23, Khabo Zondo for under-20 and Solly Luvhengo for under-17. We are doing this to maintain the local identity of our soccer.

These coaches know what our players enjoy most when playing on the field and the other coaches will help identify the players who can be able to play in the national teams with that local identity.

That is why we at SAFA are saying that there is no more room for foreign national team coaches. We want to have our identity back. People know how South African players play and we have to continue with that,” Mazibuko explained.

He added that he is happy that the winners of the 2010 Metropolitan Under-16 Schools Tournament, Rosina Sedibane Modiba High School, will represent the country in Brazil during the International Schools Tournament next year in April.

“This is good international exposure for the youngsters. They need to start playing international football at a tender age so that they are used to the pressure of playing away from home,” said the vice-president.
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