By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, is finally back in high authority after winning a landslide victory to become the new president of the South African Football Association.
Jordaan, who beat Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko to the top job in South African football by an overwhelming 162 votes to 88, replaces outgoing president Kirsten Nematandani and immediately vowed to turn his country into a proper football nation – on and off the pitch.
Jordaan’s tenure as CEO of the local organising committee for the 2010 World Cup made him an instantly recognisable figure on the world stage. SAFA CEO from 1997 to 2004, he fronted South Africa’s bids for both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals but thereafter struggled to fulfill his ambitions, having failed with a bid to lead the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) and to secure one of Africa’s seats on FIFA’s executive committee.
In March, allegiances also went against him when came up short in an attempt to gain a place on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Finally elected as SAFA President, Jordaan faces a massive task to revive the fortunes of South African football, which is in a shambles – and admitted as much. He has promised to improve the national team’s overall performance, improve youth development, strengthen women’s football and enhance his association’s international standing.
“The challenge for all of us is the development and reconstruction of South African football,” said Jordaan, who once joked he might work in a post office rather than return to the stresses of football administration.
“Many say we are a football nation but I say we are not. Germany is playing 80,000 junior matches over a weekend. Spain is playing 30,000. France is playing 40,000. If you find 3,000 matches in South Africa you’re doing well. So that’s the problem. We have to get the junior leagues going.”
“The SAFA executive will serve South African football. We have almost 2,000 players per coach. Let’s look at education – you have 2,000 kids in the classroom and the teacher has the lowest qualification, then you expect the students to be the best. It doesn’t work like that.”
Khoza had been considered a powerful candidate to contest the election but was ruled ineligible after the disclosure of a resolution in the SAFA constitution which prevented a club owner from becoming president of the national body.
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, Lucas Nhlapo and Elvis Shishana were elected as the three vice-presidents of SAFA from the five nominated and Jordaan promised everyone would work together and avoid in-fighting.
“We are not in football by invitation or favours. Many people have earned their stripes in football and have a right to be in football. We are a SAFA executive that must serve South African football, not one group or another,” he said.
Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball,com