South Africa's preparations for hosting the 2010 World Cup could be thrown into complete disarray this week as their high profile coach Carlos Alberto Parreira could be set to leave his post to return to Brazil to care for his ill wife.

The big money former Brazilian World Cup winning coach is seen as an integral part to South Africa making a strong impact playing-wise in 2010 on home soil and despite a poor showing in the recent African Cup of Nations, Parreira has been receiving praise for the development work he has been doing in trying to get the best possible squad together for the World Cup in two years time.

Now all that good work may have been wasted if the rumours are true and he is set to leave. The South African football federation will make an official announcement this week and if they do lose their prized coach be prepared for a high risk, high stakes attitude to quickly hiring another big name to give them maximum time in the job before preparations really begin in earnest for the biggest event in African soccer history.