WeeklySA_AdminLETHARGY: Safa’s financial difficulties affect smooth-running of the organisation
By Jo-Mangaliso Mdhlela
If you are surprised by Banyana Banyana less than inspiring performance in the defence of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title a week ago, cast your eyes and reflect on administrative difficulties endemic in the South African Football Association (Safa).
To scapegoat, and wrongly look for answers where you will not find them, is to deliberately obfuscate, and this will not be helpful. The problem will not go away; it will continue to persist.
The genesis of the problem must be located where it is deserved.
Several years ago, when the SA National Football Association elected Danny Jordaan as its president in 2013, he would two years into his presidential position, be deployed by the ANC to serve in the Nelson Mandela Bay as its executive mayor.
Even after his political hegemony in Nelson Mandela Bay was displaced by the DA, Jordaan’s strong personality, despite claims of mismanagement at Safa, persisted, and continued to dictate he lead the country national football for the next 13 years.
For a considerable period of time, the two roles Jordaan played as both mayor and president of Safa were irreconcilable, but persisted despite challenges of one leader serving two masters – the political and football master at the same time.
Artificially, political considerations and those of sports would be allowed to coincide, to the disgust of many, particularly those within sports circles.
The battle for the Nelson Mandela Bay loomed. It would, in the eyes of the ANC in 2015, be Jordaan to save the day – to be deployed as executive mayor after a few ANC local government leaders who came before him – were fingered in some kind of some misdemeanours.
Safa, over several years, has had its administrative spats, and serious confrontation, with Jordaan’s leadership contested, but to no avail – Jordaan always prevailed – and has continued to be at the helm for 15 years.
Jordaan’s presence at Safa continues to be an issue, but all kinds of claims of corruption or misdemeanour, and all attempts to dethrone him, have been unsuccessful or smothered, and have come to nothing
In the midst of all the sideshows and distractions – be they political or otherwise – Safa’s name gets blemished, and claims of misadministration continue smudge the association’s name.
Now Banyana Banyana has been dethroned, and unhappiness continues to persist.
Within Safa’s hierarchy, there are those who bay for the squad’s head coach, Desiree Ellis following poor results. Does she deserve this, or should the blame be apportioned elsewhere?
After touching down in Morocco, Banyana Banyana players expressed their unhappiness. They staged a sit-in, and would not show up for training. Yet, Safa claimed the matter had been resolved, and that the players’ outstanding payments have been made.
Downing tools at Morocco, on the eve of defending their title, was strange, but understandable, all tied up to Safa’s failure to pay salaries and allowances.
The Wafcon title is gone, and the problem remains. How is Safa going to find a permanent solution? Safa has deep financial difficulties. This affects the smooth running of the organisation – and the standard of our national teams.
