WeeklySA_AdminROBUST: One of the matters under discussion was the search and seizure conducted by the Hawks at the association’s headquarters in early March
By Sports Reporter
The South African Football Association (SAFA) held a very successful NEC Meeting at the Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre near the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Friday 12 April 2024.
The members of the NEC discussed several matters robustly and in the spirit of the game, setting the tone for the 32nd SAFA Ordinary Congress to be held at the same venue on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
One of the matters under discussion was the search and seizure conducted by the Hawks at the Association’s headquarters in Nasrec, in the south of Johannesburg, on Friday, 8 March 2024. SAFA is very unhappy with the Hawks’ illegal and unlawful search and seizure at SAFA House.
On that basis, SAFA has lodged a letter of complaint to the oversight judge of the Hawks regarding the manner in which the raid was conducted. SAFA has also taken the matter for review and to be set aside.
SAFA is also heartbroken after Banyana Banyana’s goalless draw with Nigeria at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday night saw the West Africans win the two-legged qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games 1-0 on aggregate.
The Association did everything in its power to support the team, but in the end disappointment is part of football and margins are often very close.
Banyana Banyana fell short of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after a goalless draw with Nigeria at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday night saw the West Africans win the two-legged tie 1-0 on aggregate.
The South African senior women’s team came into this match trailing 0-1 after defeat in the first leg in Abuja, Nigeria, last week and coach Desiree Ellis’ team needed to find a way past the stubborn visitors.
But the Sasol-sponsored side struggled to push forward in the first half and find the elusive goal that would have brought them back into the game. The home side went into halftime with no shots on target with Nigeria doing well to contain them.
The two sides went into the break deadlocked at 0-0 with the Super Falcons leading 1-0 on aggregate.
The second half saw an improvement in Banyana Banyana’s performance as they pushed numbers forward and made a few substitutions, with Sinoxolo Cesane and Hildah Magaia coming on for Nomvula Kgoale and Noxolo Cesane.
But despite the improved performance, the home team could not get that breakthrough goal against a strong Nigeria defence and good goalkeeping from Nnnadozie Chamaka. As the fulltime whistle blew, it was heartache for South Africa as Nigeria advanced as one of the two African representatives at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It was a bittersweet moment for Lebohang Ramalepe who won her 100th cap during the match. A disappointed Ellis apologised to the player for not marking the milestone with a victory.
SAFA will now focus on Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, and the South African U-17 men’s team’s two friendly matches against Colombia in Santiago de Cali as they continue with preparations for the upcoming COSAFA U-17 Championships and the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
