Carlos Alberto Parreira (Gallo Images)

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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Albert Parreira was left eating humble pie after announcing there was "no way" his pre-World Cup camp in Brazil at the start of March could be postponed a week to accommodate the PSL.

Instead, the PSL confirmed on Thursday they had been granted permission by the South African Football Associaition (SAFA) to complete the Premier League programme on March 6 with a full complement of players - including those earmarked for the Brazil camp.

"It was unavoidable," said PSL Chief Operations officer Ronnie Schloss. "We had hoped to complete the Premier League championship by the end of February. But because three of our teams, SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows, will be competing in CAF competitions at the tail-end of February we had no alternative to seeking the extension."

Unavoidable as it might be, with the Premier League championship, relegation and huge financial considerations involved, the decision made a mockery of the comment of Parreira that "the World Cup is a priority. Every politician, everyone in South African is aware of that. We finalised the Brazil programme a long time ago and we can't make any changes now."

While the dispute took on all the trappings of an irrepressible force confronted by an immovable object, the hot potato issue would seem to have emerged as another case of the right foot not knowing in which direction the left foot was going in the administration of South African soccer.

And the question needs to be raised as to why SAFA, the PSL and Bafana's technical team had not come up with a solution some time ago - knowing full well that CAF competition games were earmarked for the last week in February.

"We will now have to seek a new date for our departure to Brazil," said Bafana general manager Sipho Nkumane, "and obviously we will attempt to leave as soon after the Premier League is completed on March 6 as possible."

Parreira, in the meantime, will probably be wringing his hands in frustration - now faced with the task of revamping plans with his Brazilian connections that were put into place "a long time ago".