Pitso Mosimane on Tuesday described himself as "a soldier of football" and promised that Bafana Bafana would fight on in the absence of Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Mosimane, who will continue along with Jairo Leal as Bafana's assistant coach, also gave his backing to Parreira's replacement as head coach, Joel Santana.
"It's a sad loss for South African football to lose a person of Carlos's calibre," said Mosimane of Parreira, who resigned this week because he needs to attend to his seriously ill wife in Brazil.
"In a short space of time he showed what he can do, giving the country an identity and a brand of football that South Africa should play."
"It's also a bit of a blow on a personal level. I made this career change in relation to learning from Carlos.
"I have seen what Carlos has done, his philosophy, the way he prepares the team.
"The highlight for me is how Carlos really valued my input, always asking questions. He also never took nonsense from any players.
"With Carlos and Jairo you forgot you were dealing with people from outside the country. I had so much trust in him (Parreira).
"We did well at the Nations Cup, and the Paraguay game (Bafana won 3-0 in a friendly) really crowned all the work we had done so far."
And Mosimane has promised to carry on the work Parreira left behind: "I am a soldier of football. He (Parreira) spoke to me and he wants me and Jairo to continue where he left off."
Along, presumably, with Santana. The 59-year-old Flamengo coach has never before taken the helm of an international side, but Mosimane trusts Parreira's judgment.
"Carlos would never get someone who could not do the job," said Mosimane.
"I have done the spade work with Jairo and we will keep the team playing Parreira's way.
"I think this is the best way, I know now how to make a team gel."
The new coaching team's first task is as tough as they come, a Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Abuja on May 31.
The Nigeria game begins a harrowing schedule of four games in four weeks for Bafana Bafana.
But Mosimane is bullish, comparing the situation to that he faced when coaching the team along with Khabo Zondo in a vital Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia in Lusaka back in October 2006.
"When we faced Zambia away, everyone gave us no chance, but we won," he said.
"I am positive for the Nigeria game and I am looking forward to it. I am here to stay."
"I made sure I sunk my teeth and nails into any information Carlos gave me. He has left me with all his presentations. I have nothing to lose."
Mosimane is also confident Bafana Bafana can still have a successful World Cup in 2010 without the experience of Parreira.
"The formula, mentality and philosophy is here. We have the ammunition," said Mosimane.
"I am not saying South Africa will win the World Cup in 2010.
"But you must remember that Jairo has also been to a World Cup already (Leal was Parreira's assistant when they took Brazil to the 2006 World Cup quarterfinals).
"And Carlos is also a phone call away."