South Africa sack coach after outburst aimed at bosses

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – 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 soccer association confirmed on Thursday.

A disciplinary committee found Mashaba guilty of several offences following his public outburst aimed at the association president Danny Jordaan and guests directly after the 2-1 victory over Senegal on Nov. 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 on Thursday.

“We shall immediately institute a search for a new head coach familiar with African soccer competition, who will be expected to continue the quest to qualify for the world’s apex soccer competition.”

South Africa are second in their qualification pool, behind Burkina Faso on goal-difference, having managed four points from their opening two games. Only the top team in each pool will advance to the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The side did not qualify for the African Nations Cup finals in Gabon starting on Jan. 14 and are next in action when the 2019 Nations Cup qualifiers kick off in March.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by John O’Brien)