By Duncan Mackay
January 7 – Leslie Sedibe (pictured), a lawyer, was today unveiled as the new chief executive of the South African Football Association (SAFA) as it enters the most crucial six months of its history.
Sedibe, 36, will take the job until December 31, when Danny Jordaan returns to the SAFA, when he finishes his role organising this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
But there will still be a role for Sedibe even when Jordaan returns, SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani promised.
He said: ”Dr Jordaan has a contract with us also and obviously we would not be able to pre-empt what other issues will arrive after the tournament.
“One thing for sure is that we are not going to let Mr Sidibe leave the association because I am sure he will become a crucial part of our organisation.
“We believe that today’s appointment will look to the future and will help ensure that the assets from the World Cup will be retained.
“Sedibe is a young and visionary leader and we are confident that he will take the organisation to new and greater heights.”
Sedibe, the head of legal affairs with the organising committee of the 2010 World Cup, replaces Raymond Hack, forced out of the role yesterday.
Sedibe, is married to glamorous actress Sonia Mbele, a star of the popular South African soap opera Generations, and is a member of the interim board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), a role he is due to step down from next week.
He will also relinquish his World Cup role to ensure he can concentrate on planning for a sustainable legacy for South African football from the World Cup.
Sedibe said: ”We had a vision that a legacy will be created from this World Cup and we want to make sure that does happen.
“It’s crucial that after the tournament that we don’t have the situation that kids are running around without shoes.
“We want to focus on youth development to make sure that our educational institutions are given priority and that an open space is no longer seen as an opportunity to open up a shack, but rather a centre of excellence.”
Hack, who is also a lawyer by profession will continue to serve on the Board of the 2010 World Cup, as well as the disciplinary committees of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Nematandani said: ”There seems to be rumours flying around that Mr Hack has been fired but we want to maintain that did not take place.”
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