‘Mevrou’ breaking barriers in football
De Koker elected regional president
From starting out as a sponsor of a soccer tournament in her community to being a Safa regional president, Elizabeth de Koker has travelled a unique journey in her career as a football administrator.
The married mother of two from Bakenpark in Bethlehem, Free State, was at the weekend elected the new president of the Safa Thabo Mofutsanyana region – the second female to lead one of SA Football Association’s 52 regions.
She joins Emma Hendricks, who is at the helm of Siyanda region in Northern Cape. “It has been overwhelming but it’s all good things,” De Koker said yesterday following a landslide victory on Saturday.
She said Safa president Danny Jordaan was among the first people to congratulate her. “Mevrou” or “Mrs DK”, as the building construction company owner is known in her community, is excited to be “breaking the barriers”.
“It all started in 2009 when I was approached by two gentlemen who asked me to sponsor a festive township tournament. I became part of the annual event and eventually formed a club, Karolo FC, [named after her company].
“I was the first woman to serve in a football structure in the Thabo Mofutsanyana [district] when I was appointed treasurer in 2013. I was elected chairperson of the Dihlabeng LFA [Local Football Association] last year. I am breaking barriers,” said De Koker, who sold the status of her club last year to avoid conflict of interest.
Her elevation as regional president means she now oversees six LFAs in her home province – Dihlabeng, Malutia-Phofung, Mantsopa, Nketoana, Phumelela and Setsoto.
As for her vision, De Koker said she was not one to blow her own horn but would let her deeds do the talking.
“I want to bring more participation in the region, in line with Safa’s 2022 vision. During my time as LFA chairperson, I recruited plus-minus 120 girls to form women’s league in our district ,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gay Mokoena retained his position in Ehlanzeni (Mpumalanga), while Sandile Mata was elected new president of Chris Hani (Eastern Cape) in other Safa regions elections at the weekend.
‘ ‘ I want to bring more participation in the region