South African officials to meet Parreira

South African football officials will later this week meet former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira (picture), who is their first choice to take over the national side.

The South African Football Association confirmed a delegation would leave today to see Parreira. It is likely to include the chief executive officer of the country's World Cup 2010 Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan.

Parreira has said he is receptive to the idea but has to negotiate terms and conditions of a contract.

He said: "It's an honour to receive an invitation from the South African national team as the country will be the centre of attention as hosts of the next World Cup.

"But this will only happen after sitting down and talking to representatives of the South African federation."

South Africa have been without a coach since Ted Dumitru was fired in February after the national team lost their three group games in the African Nations Cup.

Parreira, 63, led Brazil to the 1994 world title. He was coach of Kuwait at the 1982 World Cup, took the United Arab Emirates to the 1990 finals and in 1998 was sacked after Saudi Arabia's first two matches in France.

South Africa, who failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, have had 13 coaches in 14 years of participation in international football.