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Cape Town - Molefi Ntseki says that the road to becoming the newly appointed Bafana Bafana head coach has been a fruitful journey of 21 years in the making.
Following the sudden resignation of Stuart Baxter, the former under-17 coach was entrusted with looking after Bafana Bafana at the start of August.
However, just under a month the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) opted to offer the 50-year-old a four-year contract and was announced as the permanent head coach over the weekend.
"I'm very happy to get the green jersey," Ntseki said in his first press conference as quoted by the official website.
"We all know and understand what green means, it projects a very positive future, I'm very happy that I got a green one today and the future looks very green."
He continued: "It has been a very long journey of 21 years in formal coaching of which I really appreciate.
"It was a learning process, at the same time I was getting matured, knowledge and becoming a better person.
"And I think I’ve learned so much from my predecessors, that is why today I can proudly say they were the best mentors I've worked with."
His first order of business comes in the form of an international friendly against Zambia on Saturday, September 7.
Ntseki has roped in former Bafana coach Trott Moloto and current Kaizer Chiefs Multichoice Diski Challenge mentor Arthur Zwane to assist with the match before deciding on his permanent technical staff.
"We have brought in knowledgeable people who I feel would be of help to carry Bafana Bafana to the next level‚" the new coach said.
"I don’t believe it’s all about me‚ I believe it’s all about a collective. That is why I have also started engaging the PSL coaches. I felt we need to have a scouting team and then a selection team.
"So, I have asked Sundowns to release coach Trott Moloto‚ who will be coming in as a technical adviser and coming in as a mentor because of his vast experience in the national teams‚ and because I have got a very good relationship with him as a legend of the game and a coach.
"He is coming in to be a voice of reason in the side. Somebody we can consult with‚ somebody who can share (ideas) so we can manage our players better.
"Coach Arthur Zwane has been around for years and I've worked with him since I started at SAFA as he has gone through the coaching courses and been on the bench at Kaizer Chiefs‚ and he also played for Bafana Bafana."
Kick-off is at 15:00.
- Compiled by Tashreeq Vardien
