Shakes keen to lead Safa
Coach confirms he’ll contest poll
Former Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba yesterday confirmed that he was interested in running for SA Football Association’s (Safa) presidency next month.
Mashaba told Sowetan that the Gauteng wing of the SA Masters and Legends Football Association (SAMLFA), which he chairs, wants him to challenge Danny Jordaan for the Safa top seat.
His bid, however, could be spoiled by a potential conflict between provincial and national legends/masters structures, as the countdown to the March 24 polls continues.
“I appreciate the opportunity and the faith they showed in me. The fact that they elected me as chairman of the Gauteng Masters [in December] shows that they have confidence in me – it’s good that it comes from people I played with,” he told Sowetan yesterday.
He refused to be drawn into the fact that SAMLFA national has publicly backed Jordaan as its preferred candidate.
Gauteng spokesman for SAMLFA Irvin Dire said they did not approve the move by the national body, which is headed by Buddah Mathathe.
“We don’t recognise Buddah because, as far as we are concerned, there are still unresolved issues around his election as SAMLFA national president in 2013.
“He didn’t even consult us until we heard that our only vote was going to Danny. Our preferred candidate is Shakes and we are already campaigning in the Gauteng LFAs (local football associations] for support,” argued Dire.
Mathathe told Sowetan: “It’s (Gauteng SAMLFA) a new leadership and we still have to welcome them into the organisation. We are the associate member of Safa and this is not the first time we are going for the elections.” According to Safa statutes, associate members carry one vote, which Mathathe said SAMLFA national will cast for Jordaan.
Other candidates said to have expressed interest in the Safa top post include Lucas “Rhoo” Radebe, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana and ex-Safa NEC member Nakedi Lekota.