'I think my colour is a problem,' says defiant Bafana coach Mashaba

29 May 2015 - 02:24 By Marc Strydom

Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba has entered dangerous territory by playing the race card in response to criticism of the team's plate semifinal exit from the Cosafa Cup. After losing their quarterfinal against Botswana on penalties in their first match, the seeded Bafana again lost via a penalty shootout (5-4) to Malawi in Rustenburg on Wednesday night.The South Africans again failed to score and were even less convincing against Malawi, managing just one effort on target.After a bright start 10 months ago - guiding a young team to qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations - questions are being asked if the current technical team have lost their way.A first-round exit from the Afcon has been followed by Bafana falling at the first hurdle in a tournament Mashaba had identified as important to win if they were to make an impact on the continent.Naturally, the two failures have raised doubts about his suitability for the job and spelt the end of Mashaba's honeymoon period.The coach's last line of defence was that such questions were because of his race."We had a World Cup-winning coach [Carlos Parreira]. I've never heard the question: 'Is he the right coach or not?'" Mashaba said at the post-match press conference."He came and went. I think my colour is a problem here."Mashaba failed to announce his squad for the June 13 opening Afcon qualifier against Gambia yesterday as he had promised.Journalists waiting for the announcement in Rustenburg were informed he had left for Johannesburg and that the announcement would be made next week.Mashaba denied the Cosafa tournament was a disappointment."We did not go overboard and say because we are favourites, or what, we should have won."Bafana are drawn with Gambia, Cameroon and Mauritania in the 2017 Afcon qualifiers...

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