Daily Sun (March 10 2014) - FOR Gordon Igesund the ice gets thinner every day. A reliable source tells Daily Sun a former Bafana Bafana head coach is ready to settle down into the hot seat. EPHRAIM "SHAKES" MASHABA IS THE LEADING CONTENDER TO RESCUE AILING BAFANA. The source said: "Safa have gone as far they can go with Igesund and realise he has to go."
Igesund will be shown the door after the internal hearing next month into allegations he tried to get players to strike for bigger bonuses during the Championship of African Nations tournament in January.
Bafana were pathetic in the tournament and could not proceed past the first round of the tournament, won by Libya.
Our highly placed source added: "The evidence is stacking up against Igesund."
The final straw came when Igesund was powerless to adjust his tactics as Bafana suffered their worst defeat in history, losing 5-0 to Brazil in a friendly at the FNB Stadium last week.
Bafana were beaten 1-0 by a new-look Brazil in Sao Paulo 18 months ago at the start of Igesund's reign.
Said our source: "Brazil have improved to be favourites for the World Cup in June while South Africa lost 5-0 with the same squad that only went down 1-0 before. Bafana have gone backwards."
Igesund apparently angered Safa with his bizarre unexpected comments after the Brazil defeat that he would have to persuade overseas and PSL clubs to release players for their 26 May friendly against Australia in Sydney - that's where he stated it'll not be played on a Fifa calendar date.
Said our source: "He has lost the plot. We don't need permission as all the leagues worldwide end on 18 May due to the World Cup in June, so players will be available."
Igesund failed in all his mandates.
Mashaba, who had two spells in 1992-93 and 2002-03 as national coach is being tipped as the best man to take over.
The source said Mashaba, who has the best record of any Bafana coach, is a firm favourite ahead of another former Bafana head coach Carlos Queiroz who is reported to want around R2 million per month.
The source said: "Mashaba is a better option. Just look what he did with the SA Under-17 and U-20 national teams winning two recent tournaments with little preparation. He is one of the most knowledgeable coaches in SA."
Safa president Danny Jordaan gave a strong hint that Igesund would be history when he said their National Executive Committee will evaluate his performance.
"We failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup," he said.
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