/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The ANC Youth League congratulates Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba on being named as Head Coach for South Africa’s main soccer team, Bafana Bafana.

As the ANC Youth League, we commend the collective wisdom of the National Executive Committee of SAFA on their appointment of Shakes Mashaba. The decision by SAFA to give the Head Coach a considerable period of time will bring stability to the squad and afford Shakes another chance to re-build the team as the last well performing squad was his creation in 2002 and it has been slashed into pieces by every other coach that followed.   

The South African Football Association (SAFA) under the capable leadership of President Danny Jordaan has brought confidence to South African coaches by being consistent in appointing home-grown and tested coaches as Bafana Bafana Head Coaches. We regard their replacement of Gordon Igesund by Shakes Mashaba to be a step in a right direction towards our Soccer Team qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The ANC Youth League regards soccer as a key element in nation building and sees Bafana Bafana as a tool through which we can keep our common and shared ethos alive, hence, we shall continue with our engagements with SAFA in an effort to help the country produce the next generation of players that we can be all proud of.