South Africa rules out foreign coach for Bafana job

Gordon Igesund if the fans' favourite

South Africa will not appoint a foreign head coach to replace Pitso Mosimane who was sacked earlier this week.

The search for a new coach has been narrowed down to five men and an appointment is expected within weeks.

Interim coach Steve Komphela faces stiff competition from high-profile applicants, among them Africa Cup of Nations winning skipper Neil Tovey.

Mosimane was axed after Bafana Bafana's dismal 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in last Sunday.

Gordon Igesund, Gavin Hunt, Ephraim Mashaba, Tovey and Khompela are all in the race to succeed him.

Igesund, one of the most successful coaches in South Africa's domestic championship, appears to be the fans' favourite.

He has won the league title with four different clubs.

Hunt is no novice either, having won the league title three times while Mashaba is the national under-23 coach and hasl also coached Bafana Bafana.

Tovey was captain of the Bafana Bafana team that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1996.

The selection process will take place between June 13-18.

Once all the candidates have been interviewed, the technical committee will recommend an appointment to Safa's executive committee, which will make the final decision.