South Africa picks 5 candidates for coaching role

Published Jun. 8, 2012 3:32 p.m. ET

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Former national team players Steve Komphela and Neil Tovey are among five candidates to be the new South Africa coach.

The South African Football Association says current Bafana Bafana caretaker Komphela, Tovey, Gavin Hunt, Ephraim Mashaba and Gordon Igesund, the favorite, have all agreed to be interviewed. Only local coaches were approached.

SAFA aims by the end of June to appoint a successor to Pitso Mosimane, who was fired this week.

Komphela took over temporarily when Mosimane was let go after a 1-1 home draw with Ethiopia last weekend, which stretched South Africa's winless run to nine games.

Tovey captained Bafana to African Cup victory at home in 1996, while Igesund is the most experienced candidate having coached four clubs to league titles in South Africa.