Fired coach seeks to block appointment of successor

Former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has approached the Labour Court to stop the appointment of a new head coach until the finalisation of his dismissal challenge at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. A TimesLIVE report notes Mashaba was fired as national team coach in December after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of gross misconduct‚ insubordination and violating the communications policy of the South African Football Association (Safa). His lawyer‚ Advocate Claudio Bollo‚ argued that appointing a new head coach while Mashaba is still challenging his dismissal at the CCMA will cause irreparable harm to him. ‘If a reinstatement order is granted‚ we will have two head coaches. Don't allow them (Safa) at the CCMA to say we've already employed someone‚’ argued Bollo. ‘If they should appoint a coach‚ while the CCMA matter is unfolding‚ this will cause Mr Mashaba irreparable harm‚’ Bollo said.