South Africa sack coach Mashaba over insults

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba was fired on Thursday for insulting top football officials last month, the national association said. The sacking was expected after heated exchanges between the 66-year-old and South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan following a World Cup qualifier. Mashaba refused to accept the touchline congratulations of the official when South Africa defeated Senegal 2-1 to become co-leaders of a qualifying group for the 2018 finals in Russia. Soon after, the coach became embroiled in a verbal slanging match with Jordaan and Dennis Mumble, Chief Executive of the National Association. Mashaba had been angered by public criticism from Jordaan and Mumble the previous month over the failure of South Africa to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. — AFP