Tournament News
Parreira officially appointed
2009-10-23 17:19
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Brazil - Carlos Parreira has been appointed head coach of Bafana Bafana, returning to
the job he left a year ago, the SA Football
Association announced on Friday.
South African football association
spokesman Morio Sanyane told The Associated Press on Friday that the
former Brazil coach has agreed to a second stint with the team. He will
replace another Brazilian, Joel Santana, who left his post Monday after
a series of losses in the buildup to South Africa hosting next year's
World Cup.
Parreria confirmed the move in an interview on
Brazilian television. He said he met Thursday with the president of the
South African federation, Kirsten Nematandani, who essentially offered
him the job.
Parreira led his native Brazil to the 1994 World
Cup title. He took over the South Africa team in 2006 but resigned last
year to be with his ill wife.
South Africans will now hope he
can turn the team's fortunes around before the World Cup starts on June
11. The team has been left in disarray after a series of losses that
has seen South Africa slump to 85th in the FIFA rankings.
However, there were calls for a local coach to be hired after a succession of foreigners.
"SAFA would have preferred a local coach but due to time constraints opted for Parreira because he understands the culture and because of his availability," Sanyane said. "It will be easier for him to fit in and continue where he left off."
Parreira is reported to have set down a list of demands that include when training would start for the national team.
He is reported to want national team training to begin in Brazil in March, with another training camp set for Germany in May.
The World Cup opens June 11.