What was a light-hearted Bafana Bafana press conference yesterday turned sour when coach Shakes Mashaba asked if he could "end it on a sad note". The hastily arranged briefing in Milpark had given the gathered hacks a delightful theme - one of harmony in the national team camp. This after prodigal son May Mahlangu had reported for camp despite being injured.Thulani Serero and Kamohelo Mokotjo, two players who have also had run-ins with the coach, were expected to arrive last night. But Mashaba saw a chance to again speak directly to the critics, whom he said were not in the room."Nobody would have expected me to say this. I am Ephraim Mashaba, those who still doubt my qualities of coaching the national team are wasting time," he said."People still question whether I am the right person to coach this team or not. Who is the right person? I am a South African by birth."I deserve to be here and my [skin] colour does not stop me from coaching the national team. I want people to know that."Mashaba ended his remarks with a "thank you", but he'd left many with questions unanswered.The coach has been under fire since Bafana's return from the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. They failed to go past the group stages following defeats by Algeria and Ghana as well as a draw against Senegal.His tactics, especially the decision to play a different goalkeeper in every match, were questioned.This led to the SA Football Association vowing to intensify its search for a technical director.Safa also played the role of mediator to bring back the four overseas-based players he had sidelined in Serero, Mokotjo, Mahlangu and Ayanda Patosi.The technical director post remains vacant, while the press conference had highlighted the successful mediation process.But Mashaba overshadowed this with his attacks on his detractors. Bafana have two friendly matches away to Swaziland tomorrow and Nigeria in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, on Sunday."But we haven't sat down with May just yet . We appreciate him coming all the way though he is injured. We will discuss all these issues when he is playing again."Mahlangu was suspended from the squad for withdrawing because of fatigue in November last year.Right back Anele Ngcongca is also on the injury list. But Dean Furman's Doncaster Rovers asked for the midfielder to be excused.The English-based club want Furman to be available for two must-win games in their bid to gain promotion from League One.Mashaba said he would not be calling up any replacements...