January 19 – A row has broken out in South Africa after Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira (pictured) refused a request from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for a week’s extension to the season because he fears it would jeopardise his team’s preparations for the World Cup.
The PSL have requested the South African Football Association (SAFA) to delay the national team’s departure for a camp in Brazil by a week so that the league programme can finish on March 7 instead of February 28.
But Parreira, who led Brazil to victory at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, to is refusing to endorse the plan.
He said: ”We can’t postpone our trip to Brazil by a week – that would lead to a lot of disruption.
“We discussed and finalised this programme a long time ago.
“The World Cup must be a priority.
“Everybody in South Africa, every politician, is talking about the World Cup.”
The Brazilian claimed he had already made “too many concessions”, including that of forfeiting the March 3 international FIFA date so as to allow the league to conclude their programme on February 28.
But Confederation of African Football (CAF) have made three South African teams play in continental matches on that day, forcing them to request an extension through SAFA.
SAFA’s new chief executive Leslie Sedibe is now seeking a change of date from CAF.
He said: “CAF’s position is that they can accommodate us, but we need to discuss this with the league first before we release all details.
“Imagine if we had to start next season by finishing this season’s programme.”