SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani has called for calm following newspaper reports that the head honchos of the local game are under surveillance. The City Press revealed in its weekend edition that Danny Jordaan, Molefi Oliphant, Mandla Mazibuko and Leslie Sedibe were all targetted and had tracking devices planted in their cars without their consent. However, it appears that financial director Gronie Hluyo had approved the installations despite the quartet’s lack of knowledge, something which Nematandani is hoping to clear up with the help of CEO Sedibe as soon as possible.
Danny Jordaan will contest Issa Hayatou for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football, notes a Sport24 report. According to the South African Football Association, Jordaan’s name will be put forward ahead of the 2011 CAF general elections. SAFA vice-president Mwelo Nonkonyana says his organisation have lofty ideals about improving soccer in Africa and feel that Jordaan is the right man to oversee their vision.
Bafana Bafana assistant team manager Gugu Marawa has cited ’little respect’ for new head coach Pitso Mosimane as the main reason for quitting her job. Kick Off reports that SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe apparently received a hard hitting two-page letter from Marawa, who is on the verge of being named Golden Arrows’ general manager, explaining why she was quitting SAFA. The sudden resignation will upset the national team’s preparations ahead of the international friendly against Ghana on August 11 at the Soccer City stadium.
The Department of Public Works has denied that it is demanding R1 million a month for the rent of the SAFA’s headquarters, notes a Sport24 report. According to media reports, a letter outlining the above was sent by the Public Works to SAFA, with the rumours given credence after SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani admitted to receiving the correspondence. The government body owns the site where the premises were built at a cost of R86m. ’I know about the communication between us and the Department of Public Works,’ said Nematandani. ’This issue is receiving our attention and we are talking at the highest level.’
The R1-billion windfall SAFA will receive from FIFA for hosting the 2010 World Cup will not be spent on bonuses for soccer or government officials. The Times reports that the money, which is expected to be paid at the end of September, will be controlled by a trust and specific projects will be earmarked for funding, according to SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani. He said SAFA officials met FIFA president Sepp Blatter and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke two days after the World Cup final and their instructions were clear.
Bafana Bafana, the name of South Africa’s national soccer team, may be a thing of the past. The Times reports that this comes after SAFA bosses were told by parliamentary sports portfolio committee chairman Butana Komphela that the national soccer team’s name might be changed. The outspoken Komphela, who in the past also threatened to rename the Springboks, told SAFA leaders to either resolve the controversy surrounding the Bafana Bafana trademark ownership or do away with the name completely.
SAFA’s top brass says they are still in the dark as to how much money they will receive from FIFA for staging the 2010 World Cup. Sport24 reports that several recent reports claimed that the local footballing body would pocket R1bn, yet SAFA vice-president Mandla Mazibuko insists a figure has yet to be determined. ’The issue of a billion is neither here nor there. At this point in time we don’t know what is there (to be given to SAFA),’ he said during a meeting with the National Assembly’s sport and recreation committees. Mazibuko added that any money they received would be used for development.
Long-term contract on the cards for Sedibe - 20/07/2010
SAFA is likely to offer Leslie Sedibe a long-term contract as its CEO. Sedibe was appointed to the position earlier this year and was believed to be keeping the seat warm for Danny Jordaan, who left the post to head South Africa’s World Cup organising committee. The Times reports that Sedibe and Jordaan were set to go toe-to-toe for the job after the World Cup, but that looming battle now seems unlikely to take place. Sedibe was introduced as SAFA’s chief executive officer in January, after the sacking of Raymond Hack.
Soccer bosses want white South Africans to take more of an interest in playing soccer, saying it will make the game ’more interesting and lively’. ’We want to see people like Andy Karacinski and all those white football players we used to see in the 80s,’ said SAFA chief executive Leslie Sedibe. Sport24 reports that Sedibe said the non-participation of traditional Model C schools and white schools in soccer was a problem for SAFA.
SAFA have confirmed that Ephraim ’Shakes’ Mashaba will assist Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane in addition to his U-23 duties. Sport24 reports that the move forms part of a larger reshuffle, as the body aims to standardise coaching in the national set-up. ’The lack of a unique South African style of play has been a cause for concern for many people. They have always wanted to see uniformity,’ said SAFA committee convenor Fanyana Sibanyoni.
Parliament is set to grill SAFA’s top brass on how the body plans to spend its R1 billion windfall from FIFA, especially in developing the game in the country. The Pretoria News reports that ANC MP and chairman of the National Assembly’s sport and recreation committee, Butana Komphela, confirmed they would be meeting football bosses to question them about plans for soccer development, for which some of the millions are earmarked. FIFA gave the local soccer body the money after the country successfully hosted the World Cup.
Mosimane named as new Bafana coach 14/07/2010named
Pitso Mosimane will become the new Bafana Bafana head coach, says SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani. It was public knowledge that the perennial number two was set to take the hotseat following the departure of Carlos Parreira, notes a report on the IoL site. The national body confirmed as much at a press conference during the World Cup, in which they revealed that Mosimane was their only candidate. Nematandani has now confirmed that the former SuperSport United coach will fill the void but there are a few stumbling blocks which need to be overcome before it can be officially announced.
Pitso Mosimane will have to go through ’due process’ before being confirmed as Bafana Bafana head coach, the SAFA announced at a muddled press conference. The Star reports that confusion reigned as SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani read from a prepared statement which stated the organisation’s technical committee would first have to determine if Mosimane is ’suitable’ before his appointment can be confirmed. The technical committee will then report back to the national executive committee, Safa’s highest decision-making body which made the recommendation, within 14 days.
Nike is reported to be lining up a shock coup d’etat by becoming official shirt sponsor of Bafana Bafana after it emerged the South African Football Association (SAFA) was close to ending its 12-year relationship with adidas. According to Business Day, adidas will have the right of first refusal when its contract with SAFA expires at the end of the year, but the two parties could go their separate ways after Nike made a presentation that impressed the football association.
Bafana coach to be named in two weeks - 25/06/2010
The name of the new Bafana Bafana coach is likely to be announced within the next two weeks, according to the President of the South African Football Association Kirsten Nematandani. Sport24 reports that he was reacting on to reports that Bafana Bafana assistant coach Pitso Mosimane would replace Carlos Parreira as the new coach of the national team. Said Nematandani: ’We have to finalise a few things before we will make any announcement. All we can say is that the new coach is definitely a South African.’
SAFA fully supports Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira despite reports that some players were ’unhappy’ with him, notes a report on the iafrica.com site. ’SAFA is fully behind Carlos Parreira. We support him. We support Bafana Bafana,’ said SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani in a statement. ’We call on the nation to once against rally and stand behind Bafana’ he added.
Bafana Bafana have a golden opportunity to mint it with at least R1m each and replacing their rickety jalopies with top of the range Mercs come July 11, if they win the 2010 World Cup. This mouthwatering incentive is part of the package with which the players can remind themselves about their escapades in a spectacle enjoying the biggest global TV coverage of all time.
Danny Jordaan is set to be elected the fourth Safa vice-president after the amendment of the constitution was approved. The amendment was endorsed by Safa members at a special general meeting in Sandton. The country’s soccer governing body currently has two elected deputy presidents, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana and Mandla Mazibuko. The Sowetan reports that the third vice-president is Irvin Khoza by virtue of his position as the chairperson of the Premier Soccer League. He is a special member of Safa.
SAFA is pleased that the Rainbow Nation is rallying round the national team ahead of the 2010 World Cup. ’The support that Bafana Bafana are getting is tremendous,’ said Safa chief executive Leslie Sedibe. Sedibe, quoted in The Sowetan, said, ’It is good to see so many people coming to watch Bafana Bafana in a midweek match. Our people have embraced the team. We want to see more people coming to watch Bafana Bafana We know the team will make us proud during the World Cup, but we need to all go in big numbers to the match venues to support them.’
Ahead of Bafana Bafana’s World Cup warm-up against non-qualifiers Bulgaria on May 24th, iafrica.com reports on the confidence that coach Carlos Parreira has in his squad. ’This is the best bunch of footballers I have worked with and that includes Brazil. These boys are motivated, hard working, committed and determined to do well despite being written off. Believe me when I say we are going to cause surprises at the World Cup. I accept we are the underdogs in a difficult group. I am not asking them to win all three matches, but I have told the squad to perform well and the results will follow.’
Bafana Bafana head coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, is adamant that his team is not going to be an easy target in the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. Parreira who was speaking at his team’s training camp at Marks Park grounds in Johannesburg said the team’s performance and readiness for the World Cup was satisfying. ’We will surprise you (reporters) and many others. We are not going to be easy targets, it won’t happen,’ said Parreira.
Teko Modise is among the most recognisable South African football players around today and is a sure bet to be in the final Bafana Bafana 2010 World Cup squad. The Sowetan asserts that, despite a recent dip in form, Modise remains key to the country’s hopes in the World Cup. While it is almost certain that Aaron Mokoena will lead Bafana out for their opening World Cup match against Mexico on June 11 at Soccer City, coach Carlos Parreira has shown his faith in the dependable Orlando Pirates midfielder by making him interim captain in Mokoena’s absence.
The South African Football Association on Wednesday changed the venue of every single one of Bafana Bafana’s remaining friendly internationals ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The Star reports that Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side will now face Bulgaria on May 24 at Orlando Stadium, Colombia on May 27 at Soccer City, and Denmark on June 5 at Super Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Bafana players don’t care about money 20/05/2010
Playing in the World Cup finals is not about money or extra financial incentives and Bafana Bafana will be playing for pride and their country when they open the global showpiece against Mexico at Soccer City on June 11. That was the promise to the country from two of Bafana’s overseas based full backs, Tsepo Masilela and Bryce Moon, on Wednesday. Parreria has a squad of 30 at present and will wield his axe in terms of Fifa rules by June 1 when he trims his squad by cutting seven of the current squad.
Bafana venue in doubt after SAFA bungle 19/05/210
Hosts Bafana Bafana are without a venue for their penultimate warm-up game against Colombia ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Last week coach Carlos Parreira announced that the match would be played at the Cape Town Stadium, but on Wednesday SAFA officials said they were still scrambling for a venue. The stadium is being handed over to FIFA on Thursday and the organisation is keen to rest the stadium until the June 11 kick-off. SAFA Cape Town boss Norman Arendse said there was a possibility that the match could be played at Newlands, but that
nothing had been confirmed.
The suspension of two senior executives from SAFA a month before the 2010 World Cup will not affect Bafana Bafana’s preparations, CE Leslie Sedibe said. ’If I thought that the suspensions of these two individuals would compromise preparations of the team I would never have made this decision,’ Sedibe told a National Press Club briefing in Pretoria. Sports24 reports that Sedibe suspended Bafana Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane and SAFA commercial director Victor Nosi earlier this week pending ’a disciplinary action’.
SAFA have revealed that the friendly at the Mbombela Stadium is sold out. Bafana Bafana face the Thailand national team at the opening of Nelspruit’s 2010 World Cup venue this weekend. A statement on SAFA’s website late on Tuesday read: ’The 2010 World Cup venue will accommodate thirty thousand supporters for the Sunday match between South Africa and Thailand.’
SAFA has announced the suspension of Bafana Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane a month before the start of the 2010 World Cup. The Safa statement regarding the suspension said that allegations had been levelled against Nkumane. An external, independent party would be called in to judge the issue, notes a report onthr IoL site. The matter is likely to jolt the Bafana camp, given Nkumane’s long-standing tenure with the national team.
Advisers not invited to opening match 09/05/2010
Three of SAFA’s advisers Clive Barker, Jomo Sono and Gavin Hunt claim that they have not been invited to the opening match of the 2010 World Cup next month. Sunday World reports that the three musketeers, who assisted in the dismissal of former Bafana coach Joel Santana, are astonished at the prospect of being sidelined from the country’s moment of glory.
A mystery Johannesburg businessman, Wayne Smidt, has emerged as owner of half of the company that controls the trademark of South Africa’s national soccer team, Bafana Bafana. And no one, not even SAFA, can fully explain how this happened. The Sunday Times reports that ownership of Bafana rights is hidden behind opaque shareholding structures comprising shelf companies, complicated indirect stakes and confidential licensing agreements. But the Sunday Times has established that Smidt, a 40-year-old sports clothing marketer who lives in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb of Melrose North, acquired a 49.9% stake in Slam.
