The South African Football Association (Safa) has defended its decision to re-appoint Carlos Alberto Parreira as Bafana Bafana coach.
Parreira replaced his compatriot Joel Santana who parted ways with Safa on Monday.
Parreira's return has been criticized by several prominent South African football personalities, including former coaches Jomo Sono and Clive Barker.
They feel it is time to appoint a local coach to guide the team at the world cup finals.
However, Safa President Kirstin Nematandani says eight months is too short notice to introduce a brand new coach.
"Let us rally behind this coach. Sincerely, we all felt it should be a South African but considering the fact we are running under somebody's plan, we felt that somebody must complete the plan," he said.
He says Parreira's contract will end after 2010 and it is guaranteed that a South African coach will succeed him.
"Rest assured, going into the future, it will be one of yours, meaning a South African," he said.
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