Cabinet Ministers Nathi Mthethwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and soccer boss Leslie Sedibe have been appointed to the board of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee. The Sowetan reports that this was announced by LOC chairman Irvin Khoza after a decision by the board to accept a recommendation to increase its composition from 25 to 29 members. Mthethwa is the minister of safety and security and Nkoana-Mashabane is minister of international relations and cooperation. Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele will also serve on the board.
Former SAFA secretary general Donald Norman is the new venue manager of the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Norman is returning to big- time soccer administration after almost a decade. The Sowetan can reveal that this highly-respected administrator was appointed to the job by the LOC last week. The position remained vacant after Kirsten Nematandani was elected SAFA president on last year. Norman joins three other veteran soccer administrators who are working as managers for the 2010 World Cup stadiums.
Leslie Sedibe, the suave lawyer who has just taken over the reins as CEO of the SA Football Association (Safa), has managed to use his legal training to access some of the most interesting opportunities on offer. He has overseen the careers of some of SA’s biggest music stars, including the late Brenda Fassie, as a lawyer for EMI records; he has run the country’s flagship music awards; served on the interim SABC board, which he says was ’fun’; helped the country prepare for the upcoming World Cup; and now runs the football association. Sedibe is unfazed by concerns that he does not have a football background or that he is stepping into the vipers’ nest that is SA football.
The next Bafana Bafana coach would be a true-blue South African - and the appointment of a third assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira for the World Cup, remained in the pipeline. Urbane SA Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani, revealed on Tuesday that ’both these decisions are cast in stone - and there is no going back on what forms an integral part of our vision for the future’. Nematandani said the desirability of having a South African coach at the helm of Bafana had long been accepted - but gnawing doubts had existed about whether there was a local candidate with the international experience and know-how for the enormous undertaking.
Former Safa president Molefi Oliphant has been appointed deputy chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Angola. ‘It’s a great honour to serve as one of the supervisors of the Afcon finals, which is one of the big football competitions in the world,’ Oliphant said. Oliphant, who is still a board member of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee, has been appointed head of Benguela, the second-largest city in Angola.
Top lawyer Leslie Sedibe has been named as the new SA Football Association CEO, replacing Raymond Hack whose services were terminated this week. The 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee legal adviser has signed a 12-month contract and will relinquish the position when Danny Jordaan returns from his duties with the 2010 Local Organising Committee. Hack was a close confidant of Irvin Khoza and now plays the price for his long-standing relationship with the ’Iron Duke’, who was thwarted in his bid to take control of SAFA. New SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani has spent recent months seeking to establish his power, and the installation of Sidibe is the latest step in the process. SAFA are setting up an ambitious four-year plan which Sidibe is expected to lead.
Amara Traore has been appointed new Senegal coach, the Senegalese Football Federation announced. The 44-year-old former international has coached first division ASC Linguere de St-Louis since 2007, leading them to the title this season. The Senegalese federation said Traore’s first priority is to qualify the team for the 2012 African Nations Cup and Olympic Games.
Ex-Terenga Lions’ defender, Ferdinand Coly, has also been named ’squad coordinator’.
North Korea have ’unofficially’ contacted experienced former Japan coach Philippe Troussier about coaching the team at next year’s World Cup finals.
Kim Jong-hun guided North Korea to their first World Cup finals appearance since 1966, but officials seem to want experience with current Russia coach Guus Hiddink and Sven Goran Eriksson linked with the role. According to the Nikka Sports newspaper, Troussier has been a target since October after North Korea visited France to play second division side Nantes.
New Tourism Grading Council appointment made – 22/11/2009
The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa has appointed Thekiso Rakolojane marketing and communications manager. ’Rakolojane brings in a wealth of marketing and communications expertise to our team,’ says Thembi Kunene, chief quality assurance officer at the Tourism Grading Council. ’His appointment comes at a crucial time when we are faced with a number of sophisticated initiatives and on the eve of the 2010 World Cup.’ The Times reports that before joining the Tourism Grading Council he was media relations manager at Standard Bank, responsible for the personal and business banking portfolios.
The appointment of Thandiwe Sylvia January-McLean as the chief executive officer of South African Tourism (SAT) received a mix reaction. Michael Tatalias, the chief executive officer of the Southern African Tourism Services Association, said January-McLean’s diplomatic and business experience would give SAT ’a strong interface’ with the government. ’For us, representing as we do the many companies in the private sector of inbound tourism, her appointment comes as we are all making ready to deliver the very best possible experience of our country to all those who will visit in 2010 for the World Cup,’ said Tatalias.
Thandiwe Sylvia January-Mclean has been appointed CEO of South African Tourism (SAT). ’January-Mclean is currently the appointed South African Ambassador to Portugal, notes a report on the iafrica.com site. Her appointment as (CEO) will be for a term of three years and will commence on January 1,’ said Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk. He said tourism in South Africa has grown in ’leaps and bounds’ in the past decade, but that the industry also faced many challenges. He also expressed his gratitude to Didi Moyle, the chief operating officer of SAT, who acted as chief executive officer from March 2009. ’Moyle did an outstanding job as acting chief executive officer during this very busy period as we build up to the 2010 World Cup,’ he added.
Chief of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee Danny Jordaan is among the new members of the International Marketing Council Board (IMC) announced by President Jacob Zuma.
The IMC is, among other things, responsible for the marketing of Brand SA. According to a report on the allafrica.com site overnment spokesperson Themba Maseko and Director General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, will both represent the government in the board. It is expected to play a very crucial role in marketing the country ahead of the soccer World Cup next year.
SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is set to be announced as the new Bafana Bafana assistant coach. Kick Off reports that this comes after SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani announced during a press conference at OR Tambo International Airport that they will rope in a third assistant to help Bafana in preparation for the World Cup 2010. Nematandani announced that Carlos Parreira had signed a nine-month contract to return as national team coach, paving the way for Hunt to take over after the World Cup.
Newly elected president of the SA Football Association (SAFA) Kirsten Nematandani said on Monday he was not concerned over speculation that his position could be challenged in court. Nematandani was the surprise winner of the SAFA elections at the annual general meeting held in Kempton Park on Saturday. Speaking on SABC radio on Monday morning, Nematandani said he was not aware of any legal action from Khoza or his supporters after their defeat.
Nematandani to transform local football – 28/09/2009
Newly-elected SA Football Association president Kirstin Nematandani has pledged to transform and revitalise South African football from the grassroots to Bafana Bafana. This means that under-achieving Bafana head coach Joel Santana is going to have to wake up if he hopes to keep his job. The Football Transformation Forum - of which both Nematandani and 2010 local organising committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan are members - is unhappy with Bafana’s slide and poor form, and said Santana’s 16-month reign would be under the microscope if one of them became president.
The Dispatch: We hope newly elected SA Football Association (Safa) president Kirsten Nematandani will be up to the task of unifying this divided organisation and pulling it out of the quagmire it is in. If reports in weekend media are anything to go by, then our football is in a serious crisis. It will take strong leadership from the new president to turn things around and unfortunately, he does not have the luxury of time. Without a doubt this is his most challenging task ever. The country expects him to provide strong leadership and clear direction if South Africa is to make next year’s World Cup the success we have promised to the world.
It was a day and night of drama which ended when outsider Kirsten Nematandani was elected unopposed as the new president of the South African Football Association at a stormy annual general meeting held in Kempton Park on Saturday. Nematandani, who heads the Safa Referees Committee, will have Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana and Mandla Mazibuko as his vice presidents. Both men were also elected unopposed.
According to a report on the IOL site, Nematandani’s shock election is seen as a huge victory for the Football Transformation Forum (FTF) of which Danny Jordaan, one of the other presidential candidates, is the head.
Former minister in the Office of Presidency, Essop Pahad, has been reinstated to the 2010 World Cup LOC board of directors. The Sowetan reports that this was one of the resolutions taken at the LOC board meeting in Sandton this week, the first meeting since the country hosted the Confederations Cup. LOC CE Danny Jordaan told a media briefing that the board felt there was a need to get Pahad back as a member. Pahad was one of the three cabinet ministers who resigned from government after former president Thabo Mbeki was ’recalled’ by the ruling African National Congress.
Radebe appointed 2010 tourism ambassador - 14/08/2009
South African soccer star Lucas Radebe has been appointed as SA Tourism’s ’2010 Ambassador to the World’, tasked to promote the country ahead of the World Cup kick-off next year. Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said tourism in South Africa was privileged to have a footballer of Radebe’s stature and calibre ’to partner with us to grow excitement’ about the looming international event. ’We look forward to working with him as 2010 approaches to spread the message of the anticipation and optimism sweeping our country,’ he said.
South African President Jacob Zuma appointed Bheki Cele, a provincial safety minister, as the country’s new national police chief, tasked with tackling rampant crime ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The Herald reports that Cele replaces Jackie Selebi, who was suspended as national police commissioner in January 2008 and faces a corruption trial in October. Opposition groups accuse Zuma of choosing an ally to strengthen his position, an allegation often levelled against South African leaders. The National Police Commissioner highlighted problems he faces in a country with one of the world’s highest rates of violent crime.
Morocco’s Hassan Moumen has been appointed interim coach of the national team in place of sacked Frenchman Roger Lemerre, the Moroccan Football Federation confirmed. Moumen will have a three-month contract and oversee Morocco’s four Group A qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup. SuperSport reports that Morocco are struggling to qualify for both the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and the Nations Cup - which Lemerre won in 2004 with Tunisia - in Angola also next year as they lie fourth behind Gabon, Togo and Cameroon.
The country is likely to know within days who will be the next police chief, says a Cape Argus report. Suspended National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s contract expires next week and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s office for the first time unequivocally stated that he will be replaced ’soon’. The report says the frontrunner to assume Selebi’s mantle appears still to be Mzwandile Petros, the Western Cape Police Commissioner, despite his recent implication in a series of controversies. Top career policemen under consideration include police intelligence head Commissioner Raymond Lala, Assistant National Commissioner Gary Kruser and Andre Pruis, the 2010 World Cup head of security.
Ivan Hasek takes over as Czech Republic coach - 08/07/09
Ivan Hasek will take over as Czech Republic coach for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign. Hasek is also chairman of the Czech football federation. He replaced interim coach Frantisek Straka, whose contract expired June 30 and was not renewed The announcement came after Hasek’s favorite for the post, Slavia Prague coach Karel Jarolim, declined his offer last week to take over. USA Today reports that Jarolim said he wanted to focus on his club duties.
Radebe FIFA’s Football for Hope ambassador - 24/06/2009
Lucas Radebe, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain, has been appointed FIFA’s Football for Hope ambassador. The announcement was made at the Football for Hope Forum workshop by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who also congratulated Radebe for his huge role in the development of the game. The Sowetan reports that Football for Hope is a movement using the power of the beautiful game for social development. It was established in 2005 and supports more than 70 projects in 45 countries. ’I appreciate this appointment by FIFA to serve on this project. As a youngster from Soweto, our hope has always been football,’ said Radebe.
Seipati Tlaka, former Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP) chief operations officer, has been appointed to the Premier’s office as the new provincial 2010 World Cup co-ordinator. The Informant reports that Tlaka, said she is undaunted by her new responsibilities because she has been doing the same thing in her previous job. Tlaka has taken over from Pandelani Ramakoma, who has been appointed Public Works MEC. With Tlaka having been in office for barely a month, at the moment she is still analysing existing programmes before she can outline her future plans. She says that with co-operation between host city Polokwane and the provincial government, she does not see any possibility of them failing to deliver a successful 2010 World Cup.
Khoza urged to pull out of top job race - 05/06/2009
An ANC MP intends asking Irvin Khoza to withdraw from the race to become SA Football Association president, claiming it has become ’vicious’. The Pretoria News reports that SAFA president in Transkei and ANC MP Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana said: ’South Africa is in the eyes and ears of the world because of the World Cup and we do not want a vicious race like this. I will ask him to step aside to prevent chaos.’ He was backing 2010 LOC head Danny Jordaan, he added. Khoza, currently SAFA vice-president and PSL and Orlando Pirates chairman, is in the running for the post along with Jordaan.
All but one of KwaZulu- Natal’s SAFA regions have thrown their weight behind Irvin Khoza as their preferred candidate for the position of SAFA president. The Sowetan reports that 10 of the 11 SAFA regions invited Khoza to KwaZulu-Natal last weekend where they publicly announced that they will vote for him on 27 September. Khoza said he appreciated the gesture from people who have approached him to stand for the position of SAFA president. The massive backing from KwaZulu-Natal came hardly a week after the Azanian People’s Organisation announced their backing for him.
Pressure on Nigeria to qualify for 2010 WC - 22/05/2009
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has said it will be a great tragedy if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. THISDAY reports that the President said this while inaugurating the Presidential Committee on the 2010 World Cup. The 12-man committee was set up by Yar’Adua to avoid a repetition of 2002 where Nigeria failed to qualify for the football competition held in Germany. The committee is headed by the Governor of Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi and has Sports Minister and Chairman of National Sports Commission, Sani Ndanusa as Vice-chairman, Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Patrick Ekeji, as the Secretary.
The SA Football Association (SAFA) has congratulated former Media Officer Sifiso Cele on his elevation after he scooped a top post in the 2010 Organising Committee as FIFA’s Media Accreditation Coordinator. Cele, who lived most of his life in the in the country and worked as a sports journalist, has already vacated his post as Media Officer for South Africa’s national teams including Bafana Bafana to assume his new role. SAFA CEO Raymond Hack has congratulated and wished Cele well on his move.
FIFA have confirmed the trios of match officials who will participate in the forthcoming FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009. Representing all six confederations, the thirty match officials were selected from a list of prospective candidates for the 2010 World Cup. Preparations for the match officials have been conducted under the guidance of FIFA´s Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP), which was approved by the FIFA Executive Committee at the end of 2007. The basic objective of the RAP is to professionalise the environment in which referees develop and work at both national and international level.
