Friday, March 29, 2024

Blog: South Africa regret Renard snub for Bafana job

Hervé Renard was in demand after he won his second African Cup of Nations title after guided Ivory coast to 2015 title.

While a return to Zambia was a possibility, those close to the Frenchman revealed to the ZamFoot Crew that Morocco, Cameroon and South Africa were front runners.

“Morocco and South Africa are the front runners while Cameroon has chance,” a ZamFoot Crew insider at the time revealed.

And when news broke that the Frenchman was heading to North Africa on $60, 000 monthly salary, there was a bit of relief in Lusaka that he wasn’t going to coach Southern Africa arch rivals Bafana Bafana.

Below is article of South Africa’s regret of snubbing the Frenchman by Kickoff.com’s editor Tshepang Mailwane

South Africans were made to wait for months before a new Bafana Bafana coach was announced in May last year and it was rather underwhelming when the name of Stuart Baxter was revealed as the man to take over from Shakes Mashaba.

For months names such as Carlos Queiroz, Hugo Broos and Herve Renard were mentioned as candidates to take over one of the continent’s most lucrative jobs. I had my fingers crossed that Renard would take charge of the team.

On Saturday night, the day after Baxter had failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Bafanaa, I watched Renard’s Morocco side dismantling Ivory Coast to book themselves a spot at the showpiece for the first time since 1998, without conceding a goal in the round robin phase of the qualifiers. And there I was, wondering why on earth did SAFA not do everything in their power to get this man who has proven to be a top coach on the continent time and again on board.

Herve Renard Bafana Bafana
The Frenchman is now arguably the most successful coach on the continent

At first glance, Renard looks like a model you’d find on a cover of a top magazine and you’d probably doubt his ability as a coach if you had no idea who he is. Far from it. This man has won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and the Ivory Coast and will go down as one of the finest coaches to walk the African continent. Baxter, meanwhile, is yet to prove himself on the continent.

Zambia were crowned champions in 2012 with Renard at the helm, having last featured in the final in 1994.

It was not a squad with many stars, but Chipolopolo played without fear, beating Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast on their journey to being crowned African champions. No one had even tipped the Zambians as possible contenders, but they surprised the footballing world.

Christopher Katongo was named player of the tournament and Emmanuel Mayuka, who went on to play for Southampton in England, was the top goal scorer. Zambia had four players in the team of the tournament, including Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene. Zambia were all of a sudden a force to be reckoned with on the continent.

Then the Frenchman took charge of an Ivory Coast side renowned for failing on the big stage, despite having so many stars who ply their trade in Europe.

The Ivorians were desperate for success when they went into the 2015 edition. Renard delivered by winning the title, ending 23 years of heartache for the West Africans.

During the AFCON in 2017, Morocco reached the quarterfinals, beating Ivory Coast and Togo in the group stages as they finished in second place behind DRC.

Renard Zambia Bafana
Renard has been already been to five AFCONS; Three times with Zambia and one each with Ivory Coast and Morocco.
Twice he has reached the finals and won it, and reached the quarter finals (2010 and 2015) with Zambia and Morocco.
In 2013, Zambia bowed out in the group stage

Not since 2004, when they finished as runners-up, had the Moroccans gone past the group stages, so they have made serious progress under the guidance of the Frenchman. Now they are heading to the World Cup and anything is possible.

Renard has taken countries that had been under achieving and brought them success. I believe if given the role, Renard would no doubt turn Bafana into a powerhouse on the continent. He may demand a hefty salary, but it would probably be worth it.

At the moment, it seems SAFA are determined to stick with Baxter. If he fails to qualify for the 2019 AFCON, then surely he should not stay on as coac

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10 Comments

  1. African football loves Rena, Morocco will be the fourth side to reach the Worldcup quaterfinals after Cameroon,Senegal n Ghana. SA’s got to wait a bit longer before Rena’s Midas touch.

  2. Israel’s Hapoel Ra’anana sign Zambia’s Emmanuel Mayuka
    By Oluwashina Okeleji
    BBC Sport
    13 Nov
    Zambia’s Emmanuel Mayuka is returning to play in Israel for a second stint
    Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Ra’anana have signed Zambia international forward Emmanuel Mayuka on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
    The 26-year-old returns to Isreal, as a free agent, after previous spell with Maccabi Tel Aviv between 2008 and 2010.
    His contract at Egyptian club Zamalek was terminated in August.
    Mayuka, who has 56 international caps and 11 goals, has previously played in Switzerland, England and France,
    On the back of finishing joint top scorer for Zambia, as they won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, he joined English side Southampton from Swiss club Young Boys Berne.
    However he failed to establish himself in England and spent time on loan at French outfit Sochaux.
    Mayuka returned to France to join Metz in August 2015, but he only managed two goals in 10 appearances.
    He signed for Zamalek in January 2016, scoring seven goals in 37 appearances, before his contract was mutually terminated.

  3. herve is a lousy coach. hes a chancer and a punk which finds himself the right place all the time. he cant coach bafana thats a lousy team. when he won afcon with zambia it was destined. ivory coast was bound to win the afcon. he wil be lucky if morocco wil draw one game in russia. he failed to qualify a highly talented zambia at the time. with free points on the table. renard is a lousy coach.

    • Lol. I thought you guys retired??? hahahahahahahahahahaha.

      Herve Renard could win the world cup with India and you would say it was India’s time…LOL. I missed you Stumpy…hahahaha

  4. Brilliant Coach and miles ahead of Baxter in terms of knowing the African game and technically. He is a tactician and knows how to sturdy an opponent. South Africa missed out on a getting a good Coach.

    For me i would have loved him to Coach Zambia during the qualifiers. He would gotten results in Cameroon and even in Nigeria.

    @Positive Thinking nice one lol!!

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