By Mark Gleeson BBC Sport Online, Cape Town

Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba has been appointed as South Africa's new coach.

He is the third person to be appointed this year, after Carlos Queiroz and Jomo Sono.

Mashaba, one of the greats of South African soccer, played for Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows and was a club coach at Welkom Real Hearts and Vaal Reefs Stars.

The 51 year old coach, who will manage the Bafana Bafana through the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers, has been promoted from managing the under-23 side, which he steered to a famous win over Brazil at the 2000 Olympics.

He set players like Benni McCarthy and Siyabonga Nomvete on their international career paths, when he handled the under-20 side from 1995 to 1998.

A fiery personality, Mashaba is the eighth man in charge of the team since South Africa's readmission to world football 10 years ago.

Officials said he would have a two-year contract and would be assisted by Styles Phumo, the former national coach of Lesotho.

His first game in charge will be the Nations Cup qualifier in Cote d'Ivoire on 8 September.

But Mashaba might start sooner, if Sono's request to leave immediately is accepted by the South African Football Association.