The South African Football Association on Saturday named Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba as head coach of the Bafana Bafana.
Outgoing Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi, was one of those tipped for the South African top job.
There had been speculation Keshi would land the job, a development the coach himself confirmed after several denials.
“As we speak, Shakes Mashaba is the senior national team’s coach,” SAFA President, Danny Jordaan, told reporters at SAFA House in Nasrec, Soweto.
Jordaan added: “We ask for patience from the public and the media. Let us watch Shakes grow into this role.”
Mashaba, 63, replaces outgoing boss, Gordon Igesund, whose contract to the end of August has not been renewed.
The Soweto-born mentor is no stranger on the local scene, having previously held the Bafana Bafana position in 2002, before he was appointed head coach of the Swaziland national team four years later.
Saturday’s announcement means Mashaba leaves his role as national under-20 and under-23 coach.
Mashaba did not attend the SAFA announcement on Saturday as he was with the South African men’s under-20 team on a tour of West Africa.
The team was scheduled to play an international friendly against Mali in Bamako on Saturday.
Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, who attended the announcement, said he was delighted with the SAFA national executive committee’s decision. “Finally this matter had been laid to rest,” Mbalula said.
He added: “We support the decision of the new coach. We are rebuilding the giant which is football. We are a winning nation, but you can’t win with nothing.”
Mbalula congratulated the new coach, whom he said was coming back for a “second bite”.
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