'Bafana head coach search a total sham'

SA Football Association (Safa) technical committee member Benni McCarthy dropped a bombshell yesterday when he revealed that he was as in the dark as the rest of South Africa about the search for a new Bafana Bafana coach.

McCarthy's revelation comes as a shock as the former Bafana striker is a member of a team tasked with finding the right man for the job.

"I thought I was part of a group that was doing good to find the new coach for Bafana but I simply just don't know what has happened," he said yesterday.

• Benni McCarthy drops bombshell, says he also doesn't know why Bafana still do not have a coachSouth African Football Association (Safa) technical committee member Benni McCarthy dropped a bombshell on Tuesday and revealed he is as much in the dark as the rest of the country in regards to the search for a new Bafana Bafana coach.

"What has stalled the process? This situation is a major bummer. There were good candidates and I was expecting that by now there would be a coach.

"But clearly, there is a hold-up somewhere, which I don't have any knowledge of. What is the reason behind it?" he said. "I'm in the same boat as you guys in the media."

Bafana have been without a head coach since Shakes Mashaba was sacked in December.

The new coach will have to hit the ground running as the national team have a daunting away Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria next month.

"It's a major setback that we have a huge match against Nigeria in a few weeks' time and we don't have a coach," said the former Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Orlando Pirates marksman.

"There is uncertainty because we do not know if [caretaker coach] Owen da Gama is going to take the team forward or there is going to be a new coach by that time Bafana play [Nigeria].

"It is very confusing for the players because they were expecting the new coach to be watching them by now," the 39-year-old said.

"To be honest, this is a major bummer and I just hope that it gets resolved as soon as possible ."

Several names have been linked to the Bafana job but Safa does not appear to be any closer to a decision.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport