National football association official Natasha Tsichlas said: "Neil understands the South African football culture and has a successful track record."
Tovey skippered Bafana Bafana to a 2-0 triumph over Tunisia in the 1996 Cup of Nations final in Soweto, watched by a capacity 80,000 crowd that included then President Nelson Mandela. His 52-cap international career ended a year later after a poor performance in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifying defeat away to Congo in Brazzaville.