The South African Football Association (SAFA) has appointed Molefi Ntseki as the new Bafana Bafana coach, but most soccer fans are unimpressed.
SAFA announced the appointment on Saturday afternoon following its national executive committee (NEC) meeting.
According to a media statement, the appointment was unanimous.
The national football body first appointed the 50-year-old Ntseki as interim coach about three weeks ago.
He served as assistant coach to former Bafana Bafana coaches Shakes Mashaba and Stuart Baxter.
Ntseki pledged to do his best as coach of the men’s senior football team.
I want to first of all thank the SAFA NEC and the Technical Committee for the confidence they have showed in me. I am humbled by this honour and I want to assure the nation that I will give this the best go.
Molefi Ntseki
He takes over from Baxter, who resigned earlier in August. His first official game as coach is a Bafana Bafana friendly against Zambia.
The match is scheduled for 7 September in Lusaka.
Soccer fans react
Social media has been abuzz with news of the appointment. Many soccer fans genuinely professed to not knowing who Ntseki is.
Others were left plain unimpressed and actually felt that SAFA was not being serious.
@TboozSA tweeted, “Who’s he? Let me Google.” “This must be a joke,” @SlimTony6 added.
Sandile Shamase also tweeted, “Funny……….Ok let’s get serious now, when are you announcing the new Bafana coach?”
However, others were prepared to give Ntseki a chance, including Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.
He replied, “He is underrated – that’s what I know, but wait and see. He is a good coach. Congratulations are in order.”