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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE South African Football Association has poured cold water on reports linking former Bafana Bafana forward Benni McCarthy to the national side’s top job.

Various media reports in South Africa at the weekend had linked McCarthy with the job that fell vacant after the dismissal of the relatively unknown Molefi Ntseki following Bafana’s failure to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Former Bafana coaches Carlos Queiroz and Pitso Mosimane had been the front runners, but the duo expressed no interest in taking the reins for the second time.

Media reports had said McCarthy agreed in principle to the appointment on condition that he’s allowed to take his AmaZulu backroom staff, who include Siyabonga Nomvete as his assistant and Moeneeb Josephs as goalkeepers’ coach.

However, Safa has released a statement refuting the reports.

“We have noted that various publications over the last week have reported the appointment of a new Bafana Bafana coach as having been concluded. Firstly, it was Carlos Queiroz then Pitso Mosimane and most recently AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy.

“Safs has always stated that the technical committee will submit their final recommendations to the Safa NEC, the highest decision-making body, which will finally make the announcement once the process is concluded. We note that Benni McCarthy’s name comes at a time when AmaZulu are top of the log standings and it might appear that Safa wants to derail the club’s good run.

“We are happy with AmaZulu’s current good run, but Safa will announce the new coach once the issue is dealt with by the NEC,” reads the Safa statement.

Bafana Bafana will travel to Zimbabwe for their opening match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on the weekend of June 5-6. – @innocentskizoe