July 31 – Kirsten Nematandani, the incumbent South African Football Association (SAFA) president, has dismissed suggestions that his position is under threat following the decision by two of his deputies to challenge him in September elections.
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana and Mandla Mazibuko are reportedly keen to run against Nematandani who wants a second term as Safa boss.
“People have ambitions in life,” said Nematandani, who was elected unopposed in September 2009. “In the past four years, this organisation has never been so busy with so many activities. My time was characterised by hosting major events and that indicates that there was a lot of excitement. It meant we had to put all our energy there to make sure everything goes according to plan.”
Nematandani was suspended briefly by his own federation last year during inquiries into a match-fixing scandal involving warm-up games prior to the 2010 World Cup finals.
Nonkonyana, chairman of the African Nations Championship organising committee, said he had received numerous phone calls from members asking him to stand against his boss.
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