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South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba was suspended after a television camera caught him ranting at his critics following a World Cup qualifier, while reports claimed he also insulted the head of the country's football federation. A video that emerged on Monday shows Mashaba being calmed by a reporter and a South African Football Association official just before a postmatch TV interview for the national broadcaster after South Africa's surprise 2-1 win over Senegal on Saturday in World Cup qualifying. It was speculated that Mashaba would have been fired if South Africa lost. The video shows a clearly angry Mashaba shouting and pointing his finger as he moves into position for the interview. "No, no, no. I'm going to talk before I talk about the victory," Mashaba is heard saying as the SAFA official moves toward him to calm him down. "This is my second life. These people have already buried me, you know that. These people have already buried me. It [the media] talks about 'he's gone and forgotten' and you want me to talk to the media?" SAFA said it suspended Mashaba for a "regrettable incident" at the stadium but didn't say if it was for the pre-interview comments. Media reports also said that Mashaba was involved in another incident after the game, when he allegedly insulted SAFA president Danny Jordaan and other federation officials when they entered the dressing room to congratulate the team. Mashaba's suspension means he wasn't allowed to travel with the South Africa squad for a friendly in Mozambique on Tuesday, when assistant coach Owen da Gama will take charge of the team. SAFA said it would not comment further on the case "out of respect for the dignity of the head coach and the association and the legally privileged nature of such proceedings."
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