The lack of leadership at the South African Football Association (Safa) is to blame for Bafana Bafana's demise on the international stage, writes iafrica.com's Khaya Ndubane.

When the Football Transformation Forum (FTF) was campaigning for the Safa elections, they promised to transform football in South Africa and they also promised to bring Bafana back to its glory days, but two months after they won the elections and the shenanigans of the old Safa regime continues.

The re-appointment of Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira bares testimony to the new regime?s lack of leadership because if they had done their homework they would have realised that Parreira was a bad choice from the very beginning.

No offence to Parreira, he has a World Cup winner?s medal to his name after all, but the truth is that he has no record with the so-called smaller countries.

Former Brazilian captain Dunga's achievement with Brazil shows that one does not need a UEFA A Licence to lead Brazil to winning a major event. Dunga, who had no coaching experience prior to taking over the Brazil job, easily won the Confederations Cup this year and also led Brazil through the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Hell, even Joel Santana, who was pushed into resigning the Bafana post, can win something with Brazil! My point is that except for winning the World Cup with Brazil, Parreira does not really lay claim to anything else.

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt (who has a UEFA A Licence) stated clearly that the eight months left before the World Cup would have been enough for any good coach, but Safa still went on to hire Parreira saying "there was not much time to experiment".

Another issue that continues to dodge the new Safa leaders is the issue of Benni McCarthy. Benni was once again been recalled to the national squad, but the issue that continue bug him ? the Egypt dilemma where he was labelled as a rebel for representing his team-mates in the bonus talks with Safa ? remains unresolved.

How is Benni going to give his all for his country when he still has that hanging over his head?

Safa President Kirsten Nematandani has been described as a man with true leadership qualities, but he continues to stand by and do nothing about these two issues.

It is too late to resolve the Parreira situation, but it is not too late to resolve the Benni/Safa impasse.

So, Nematandani show us your leadership qualities by resolving this issue because the honest truth is that South Africa need a committed Benni in order to do well in the World Cup.

  • Do you agree with Khaya? Does Safa lack leadership? Let us know what YOU think!