Mashaba has been suspended by Safa
Safa released a statement on Sunday confirming that Mashaba
will not be on the bench when Bafana take on Mozambique in an international
friendly on Tuesday night
The South African Football Association (Safa) has announced
the suspension of Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba with immediate
effect.
The association confirmed that Mashaba has not travelled to Mozambique on
Tuesday for disciplinary reasons.
Owen Da Gama will be in charge of the national team in
Maputo, having served his one-match ban against Senegal.
"Bafana Bafana Head Coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba will
not join the team on their trip to Mozambique as the Association has deemed it
necessary to employ disciplinary measures after a regrettable incident at Peter
Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 12 November 2016," reads the statement
released by Safa.
"Assistant Coach Owen da Gama will take charge of the
team in the above-mentioned international friendly match against Mozambique on
Tuesday, 15 November 2016 in Maputo."
"As is our custom in matters such as these, the
association will not be making any further comments on this matter out of
respect for the dignity of the Head Coach and the Association and the legally
privileged nature of such proceedings," said the statement.
In a statement sent by Dennis Mumble to the Safa national
executive committee (NEC) members on Sunday, the Safa CEO said Mashaba had to
be disciplined after “the unpleasant events” after Saturday's game against
Senegal in Polokwane.
“Following some unpleasant events after the match of the
men’s senior national team (Bafana Bafana) at Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday, I
had to meet with head coach, Ephraim Mashaba today (Sunday) to commence
disciplinary steps against him,” Mumble said in the statement.
“As a result of yesterday’s events, I was forced to place
the head coach on suspension with immediate effect pending a full disciplinary
hearing.
“As has been policy in matters involving staff discipline,
we will not respond to media enquiries except for issuing a brief statement to
alert the public to the absence of the head coach from the bench for Tuesday’s
friendly match against the Mozambican men’s senior national team.
“This is necessary to safeguard the dignity of the head
coach and the Association in this process.
“Coach Mashaba has however asked that we convey to the NEC,
and the president of the Association, in particular, his sincerest apologies if
he has offended anyone and he unreservedly asked for forgiveness for Saturday’s
actions.”
Mashaba's future has been up in the air for quite some time,
but his team's win over Senegal eased pressure on the 66-year-old mentor,
although he is not entirely off the hook.
