Victory for Jordaan as Nematandani takes over2009/09/28
A WELL-CALCULATED strategy to come up with an alternative plan has brought victory to Danny Jordaan’s camp as his ally, Kirsten Nematandani, is now the new president of the South African Football Association following a day of high drama during the Safa elections in Kempton Park at the weekend.
It was expected as early as two months ago that there was going to be a lot of manoeuvring during the Safa elections, and it happened exactly like that.
It became clear that Nematandani from Limpopo was going to be the new Safa boss after the Irvin Khoza faction and Jordaan’s camp each questioned the two candidates’ eligibility for the presidency.
The gripe of the Khoza faction was that Jordaan could not stand for the Safa presidency by virtue of the fact that he is in the organisation’s employ by being the chief executive of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC).
On the other hand, the Jordaan camp argued that Khoza as the chairperson of the Premier Soccer League made him an ineligible candidate for the Safa presidency.
Unexpectedly, both Khoza and Jordaan pulled out of the race, leaving 51-year-old Nematandani, who is the chairperson of the Safa referees’ committee, as the only candidate.
It was, however, simply clear that Jordaan’s camp was going to win after it was decided that Safa’s Metsweding region was eligible to vote.
The region supported the Football Transformation Forum, which had been backing Jordaan’s candidacy.
Sensing that a win was slipping by, Khoza stormed out of the meeting and was followed by his PSL sympathisers.
“It’s an honour for me to be elected as Safa president. I will work very hard to ensure the best for our soccer,” said Nematandani.
It was a day of victory for the Jordaan camp as Mwelo Nonkonyana and Mandla Mazibuko, two of his closest allies, were voted as Safa vice-presidents.
The Safa elections went against Fifa’s wish to have them postponed until after next year’s World Cup tournament.
As promised earlier this month, Fifa sent one of its vice-presidents, Geoff Thompson, and the world governing body’s development officer for Africa, Ashford Mamelodi, to the meeting. Among the issues that were agreed upon during the meeting is for the grants for Safa regions to be increased from R150 000 to R250 000, while associate members will each receive R125 000.
Khoza, who is the 2010 LOC chairperson, and Jordaan, can now go back to prepare for the first World Cup showpiece to be held on African soil.
Meanwhile, Molefi Oliphant, who vacated the Safa presidency on Saturday, is now the organisation’s honorary life president. - By MONWABISI JIMLONGO
source: http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=348073
+ comments + 2 comments
you can run but you cannot hide. stop rubbing sand jordan in my eyes. who is fooling who? are you fooling me jordan or I am fooling a you. Hi fans, what is a jordan without the fans? what is nemachendani without a soccer team ownership knowldge. Molefi is a trator, watch his jaws loose air quick. We have been here before and will pull out and form another league. why were we the fans not allowed to vote, we are the bread and butter of all this soccer business. jordan must know will see him after school. This is the moment to sing Msholozi's favourite song. When you see a bull limping do not make it climb a mountain.
Letlampona Velaphi
Patric Mphephu is back in action, the boy from Tshiviliduli now heads SAFA. This will be Cocastic SAFA. Anyway, shumela Vendsa vo Nematandani. Just do not bring Ngwali with you at the stadium we do not do such. Besides do not even think of changinf SAFA Logo into an Elephant head Logo. A vo khosi munene, vone vomsanda va dzanani Venda ro viya. Y a vo viya position ya SAFA presidency. Ndi do mu diya nga mushonga is thing of the past, this is number one global soccer and the fans range from cool calm to haloween.
Besoek Leeu Kop