FOOTBALL: South Africa sack coach after outburst

South Africa's Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba

Ephraim Mashaba has been sacked as South Africa coach despite leading the side to a crucial World Cup qualifying victory over Senegal last month, the country’s football association confirmed yesterday.

A disciplinary committee found Mashaba guilty of several offences following his public outburst aimed at the association president Danny Jordaan and guests after their 2-1 victory over Senegal on November 12. Mashaba, who has had several scrapes with South African Football Association (SAFA) officials during four stints in charge of the side, was reportedly unhappy at what he perceived was a lack of support from his superiors.

“Due to the seriousness of the coach’s actions, we had to release our head coach with immediate effect,” SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble said in a statement yesterday. “We shall immediately institute a search for a new head coach familiar with African football competition, who will be expected to continue the quest to qualify for the world’s apex football competition.”