Queiroz keen for second spell

WILLING AND ABLE: Iran FA head coach Carlos Queiroz said he would consider returning to South Africa to coach Bafana Bafana if he becomes available and Safa approaches him Picture: GETTY IMAGES
WILLING AND ABLE: Iran FA head coach Carlos Queiroz said he would consider returning to South Africa to coach Bafana Bafana if he becomes available and Safa approaches him Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Though he is currently negotiating with the Iran Football Association to release him from his head coach position‚ Carlos Queiroz has confirmed he has not been contacted by the South African Football Association to take over the vacant Bafana Bafana position.

In an interview with Eyewitness News (EWN)‚ Queiroz said he hoped the Iran FA would accept his resignation as soon as possible so he can move on with his life.

The former Manchester United coach said he would consider returning to South Africa for a second spell to coach Bafana Bafana – he coached Bafana between 2000 and 2002 – if he becomes available and Safa approaches him.

“If I am free and considered for the position of national team coach of South Africa‚ there is not a single coach in the world who would say no if a national team thinks his name can drive the dreams and expectations of the country forward‚” he said.

“First of all‚ everyone knows South Africa is like home for me.

“I was born a few kilometres from the border in Mozambique. I am an African person‚ a white African person. I have so many links with Africa to consider that position. Apart from the football matters‚ it is something special for me.

“One of the things that was an important consideration for me to leave Manchester United and accept the job of national team coach of Portugal, was the fact that the World Cup was in South Africa.”

The former Real Madrid and Portugal coach‚ who took Iran to their fourth World Cup in 2014 and also led them to top of their qualifying group for the tournament in Russia in 2018‚ resigned earlier this month.

He cited a lack of support from his Iran FA employers.

“At the moment‚ as you can understand‚ I have ethical duties and obligations with my present contract and I am not in a position to make comments about that.”

Safa officials have said they will not rush to make an appointment and have given themselves until March to complete the search for a new man to fill the vacancy left open after Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba’s sacking last month.

This should also give them enough time to deal with Mashaba‚ who is challenging his dismissal and has instructed his legal representatives to take his case to the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration.

Mashaba – found guilty of several charges‚ including gross misconduct and insubordination – wants to be reinstated as he believes he was dismissed unfairly.

And should he not be reinstated‚ he wants to be paid out the remainder of a contract that was to run until next year’s Fifa World Cup in Russia. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital

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