Danny Jordaan has been re-elected as the football association’s president following the SAFA Congress at the Sandton Convention Center. His election means that he will be in charge of the main soccer organization in South Africa till the year 2026.
Breaking News: Dr Danny Jordaan retained his seat as South African Football Association (SAFA) President when he won by overwhelming majority at the Elective Congress on Saturday.
Dr Jordaan polled 186 votes, Ria Ledwaba 27 votes and Solly Mohlabeng 8 votes— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) June 25, 2022
The day before the polls, the Elective Congress, which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre, had been tainted by controversy as supporters of vice president and candidate Ria Ledwaba gathered outside the building, the protest and picketing of Jordaan’s removal persisted right up to election day.
Following Jordaan’s eight years in the position, Ledwaba’s supporters stressed the need for the organization to have new leadership, which they believed only Ledwaba could provide given her background in South African football.
After defeating Ria Ledwaba and Solly Mohlabeng for the presidency, which he has held since 2013, Jordaan will lead Safa for a third term. Jordaan won by a wide margin, with association members supporting him to continue to oversee South African football for another four years.
The incumbent president received 186 votes to win the contest. Mohlabeng only managed to score eight, while Ledwaba scored 27. Ledwaba’s supporters showed up at the Sandton Convention Centre early on Saturday morning to picket in full voice in favor of the presidential candidate.
The reappointment of Jordaan has been received with strong opposition from football enthusiasts, who believe that he has held the association back and that a change is necessary to advance the local game.”What is this old man doing at SAFA?His peers are on pension right now looking after their grandchildren. He behaves exactly the same as African Presidents. They hold on to power to their last days on earth. Only death will rescue south African soccer-loving people from this chaos” said Myste a soccer fan.
One of the president’s critics further stated “Danny must make way for new people. We all know of the advantage that incumbents have over other contestants. It can’t always be a case of people having voted when everyone is alive to the circumvention and manipulation of electoral processes by these power-hungry people,”
Mr. Jordaan, who was chosen to serve a third term as president of the SA Football Association (Safa), has stated that this will be his final term in office. “For the next term, which is 2026 to 2030, I won’t be there. I must tell you now, this is my last term,” Jordaan said after being re-elected.
However, Safa members, who cast the votes, think the seasoned but divisive football administrator is doing a great job and therefore they handed him another chance to run the organization.
Jordaan stated that improving Bafana Bafana, including squad size restrictions in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), will be a top goal during his next term. Other areas of focus include developing women’s football and enhancing the game in schools.
“We want a professional women’s football league. A professional league means a player earns enough from football to sustain their needs. They don’t need to work a second or a third job to sustain themselves. That’s where we want to be with the Hollywoodbets Super League.”
Also read: Pitso Mosimane and his technical team part ways with red devils
Source of News : Danny Jordaan re elected safa President in congress held in sandton
