An unprecedented Kaizer Chiefs return looks to be on the cards for Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, with reports suggesting that talks between the South African Football Association (Safa) and Amakhosi are ongoing.
This could leave the national team once again in a precarious situation and in the football wilderness looking for a new coach.
It is just over year since Baxter was persuaded to join Bafana Bafana for the second time, but it has certainly not been a happy homecoming, with the 64-year-old coming underfire after his failure to guide South Africa to the 2018 Fifa World Cup finals.
Bafana’s absence from the tournament is now a dream deferred, but with Baxter likely to depart, a new man could be entrusted with taking the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations champions back to the promise land, and Goal looks at just some of the potential candidates for the job.
PITSO MOSIMANE
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If Safa is looking to appoint a local coach, the 53-year-old is undoubtedly the right man. Mosimane has won arguably everything he could in South Africa and on the continent.
But it should be remembered that Mosimane too had his shot at stardom following the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
However, rather than Mamelodi Sundowns mentor’s career going downhill ever since, it has been on the rise, and Mosimane will be quick to admit that he isn’t the same man he was earlier in his career.
What could make the deal fail is that Mosimane is currently contracted to Sundowns. This could prove difficult to take him away from the comforts of one of SA’s top jobs.
This could prove a stumbling block, but with Mosimane hinting at taking a possible sabbatical in the not so distant future, perhaps the allure of international football may be just what the doctor ordered for the former SuperSport United coach.
HERVE RENARD
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The Frenchman was previously on Bafana’s wanted list after Shakes Mashaba was sacked.
But reports suggested that his demands may have been a deterrent. Renard steered Morocco to the World Cup finals, and one can only wonder what could have been had the former Zambian national teaml coach been given the job.
Renard though, has a contract that runs up until 2022 and it remains to be seen whether or not he will continue the project or go in search of another challenge.
If Bafana want him, they will have to dig deep into their pockets to bring in one of the continent’s most successful coaches simply because he won't come cheap.
CARLOS QUEIROZ
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Lastly, should Baxter leave, one man that is likely to be candidate No.1 is the current Iran boss, Carlos Queiroz.
He was previously on the verge of returning to the Bafana coaching job that he abruptly vacated just before the 2002 Fifa World Cup, but it was not to be as he was still contracted to Iran which made the potential move very difficult.
This is perhaps what forced Bafana to look elsewhere, but after the Portuguese mentor’s exploits as he took Iran to the World Cup and made them one of the Asian continent’s best teams, the world and Bafana have surely seen his worth.
It should be noted that Queiroz was the last coach to qualify the national team for the World Cup back in 2002, and he could be the answer to the Bafana’s woes.
On the plus side his contract is set to come to an end after the World Cup, and while reports suggest that an extension could be on the table, if the Safa hierarchy is quick enough, they could convince the former Real Madrid manager to jump ship.
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