Under-fire Bafana Bafana head coach Joel Santana looked resigned to his fate on Thursday after local media called for his head when he named a 23-man squad to play Norway and Iceland in friendly internationals in Oslo on October 10 and Reykjavik on October 13.

At a packed media briefing, Brazilian born Santana was told by new South African Football Association president Kirstin Nematandani that he had given the unpopular coach a stay of execution.

“We met with Santana and his technical team on Wednesday,” said the new Safa boss.

“We are aware of the outcry about Bafana’s lack of success in recent matches. We told the coach that we expect him to start bringing back results.

“But we need to give Santana and his team our full support before we take the step of firing or not firing him.”

Most members of the media expect Santana’s head to roll if Bafana lose against both Norway and Iceland. However, Nematandani stopped short of saying that he would fire Santana if the team failed in next week’s games.

“We have not given Santana or his technical team an ultimatum, but we want to make sure that we have a competitive team to play in the World Cup next June,” he said.

In campaigning for the Safa presidency, the Football Transformation Forum, of which Nematandani is a member, said they would fire Santana should a member of the FTF win the Safa election last Saturday.

But it appears Nematandani and his followers are having second thoughts and are prepared to give Santana another chance to get the under-performing national side back on track.

Santana was also told to conduct Thursday’s conference in English. He normally speaks through an interpreter.

After 16 months in charge of Bafana the Portuguese speaking Santana’s English is still poor and difficult to understand. Few of the SA media could work out what he was trying to say when they confronted him and asked if he would resign should Bafana lose against Norway and Iceland.

Speaking his usual gobbledygook, Santana tried to squirm out of answering the question. He appeared to deny that he would quit, but it also appears that time is running out for the Brazilian.

He said, or at least it sounded like he said: “I have no problems with the new Safa president, I am simply doing my job.”

Safa chief executive Raymond Hack defended Santana.

“We are looking at the bigger picture and working towards the Word Cup. That is Santana’s mandate,” said Hack.

“We also decided not to use the interpreter because he needs to start speaking English at press conferences.”

Santana has again left out the two ‘bad boys’ – Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy and Spanish based central defender Nasief Morris – who were both excluded from June’s Confederations Cup for disciplinary reasons despite calls for their recall.

South Africa have lost six of their last seven internationals, and they played to a flattering 1-0 win over poorly prepared Madagascar.

The bottom line is that, while Safa are putting on a show of support for Santana, it is clear they will act swiftly when the time comes. That time could be next week.

The team assembles on Tuesday and departs in the evening.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Emille Baron (SuperSport Untied), Rowen Fernandez(Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Josephs(Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Bevan Fransman(Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa,Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (KRC Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates).

Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England) Benson Mhlongo, Teko Modise (both Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton,England) Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn Rovers, England), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs).

Strikers: Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows), Mabhuti Khenyeza and Katlego Mphela (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars), Bernard Parker (FC Twente,Netherlands)

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Tags: bafana bafana, joel santana