Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa has told SABC Sport how he and world-renowned mentor and long-time confidant Carlos Queiroz landed the job in Iran.
News of De Sá’s appointment to Queiroz’s technical squad was confirmed last weekend, and he will now head to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The duo, who also recently worked together in the Egyptian national team’s technical staff, will be reunited with former Bafana Bafana shot-stopper He tells the public broadcaster how everything happened.
“Probably about a week after we left Egypt, Iran started contacting Carlos and we went and had some conversations about that and we reached an agreement a couple of weeks ago,” De Sa said.
“It was just a matter of a few small details that needed to be sorted out, and if that’s achieved, it’s another World Cup and why not try? If they want you, you come in, do the job and see how it goes.”
De Sah says he is relishing the moment to once again learn from Queiroz, who served as his assistant coach in Egypt and was part of this year’s African Cup of Nations, losing the final to Senegal.
It’s bittersweet to be at the World Cup with another country, but after the two of them qualified Bafana for the 2002 World Cup, they were kicked to the curb.
“Obviously being at a different World Cup with other countries than my own, I guess it’s always a bit different. At the time we qualified for my country, we were fired and someone else left,” he added.
“So another World Cup with another country, it’s a fantastic experience and it’s a professional job, you have to go out, do your best, work with different cultures and different players.
“But it’s been great and I think Carlos has a lot of experience which is always nice to learn from and to be able to meet different star players and players who play all over the world has been fantastic.”
Zola Molefe
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