Xasa and her principals in Pretoria are literal spoilsports
Life has not been the same since Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa blew into town like the easterly wind in February and proceeded to rub many people up the wrong way in no time at all.
It’s been such fun watching her go to work and she’s already raised more blood pressure levels in the three months she’s been at the helm than the man Kaizer Chiefs fans love to hate, Steve Komphela, managed in the three trophyless years he was coach.
Xasa got the week off to a flying start when she faced members of the media in Pretoria on Monday and made several announcements that were enough to loosen many tummies. She first revealed that the government is assembling the best possible legal team to face Solidarity in court ahead of the union’s bid to challenge transformation in sport.
Xasa confirmed that she has instructed the director-general in her department‚ Alec Moemi‚ to get the best legal minds in the country at whatever cost in preparation for the court battle against Solidarity.
Solidarity and AfriForum took SA Rugby‚ Cricket SA‚ Athletics SA and Netball SA to court in May 2017 over transformation targets. But Xasa said they would not allow anyone to undermine what they are doing.
And after she got that out of the way, she turned her attention to Morocco’s 2026 football World Cup bid.
The North Africans have been on a charm offensive since they announced their intention to challenge a joint bid by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Hell, a Moroccan delegation comprising erstwhile Senegal and Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf and former Cameroonian goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell visited Safa House in April to lobby for support.
But the folks at the Union Buildings have got long memories and they have not forgotten that the two countries have had strained relations since Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria in 2004 when SA recognised the independence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic‚ also known as Western Sahara.
Xasa did not mince her words and she said the South African government would not support Morocco’s bid to host the World Cup.
“We are very clear that we can’t support Morocco‚” Xasa said unequivocally.
“Our Parliament was very straightforward in this regard‚ it is the mandate of the country and it is an obligation for sporting bodies to understand what the country’s agenda is.”
The gasps could be heard in the bowels of the Cango Caves, but Xasa was not finished. The government wasn’t amused by reports that Safa would support the Moroccans, she said
“You cannot, just because you have experience in Fifa matters … go into the country that goes against the mandate of your country,” she said.
“SA has hosted many big events‚ we are recognised throughout the world‚ our teams are doing very well. But there is so much competition to host these kinds of games even in Africa. That’s why you can hear [Safa president] Danny Jordaan saying: ‘I am going to assist Morocco in their bid to host the World Cup’.”
The sports minister stopped short of telling the North Africans to go fly a kite.
But the story becomes more complicated because recently crowned premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns are supposed to host Spanish football powerhouse Barcelona in a high-profile friendly that will seemingly be used to further the interests of Morocco’s 2026 bid.
Jordaan, Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe and other officials are in Spain at the moment trying to wrap up a deal that could see the Spanish champions troop into the FNB Stadium next week.
Apparently, Fifa president Gianni Infantino and his Confederation of African Football counterpart Ahmad Ahmad are also expected to attend the high-profile networking exercise.
It remains to be seen if all these people will be able to convince Pretoria to change the hardline stance.
Bring out the popcorn and pull up a chair folks.