Tsichlas launches attack on Chief
Nonkonyana keen to block Jordaan’s victory
SA Football Association (Safa) national executive committee member Natasha Tsichlas yesterday launched a scathing attack on Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, stopping short of calling him a constitutional delinquent.
Nonkonyana has been leading a campaign demanding change at the association ahead of elections scheduled for March 24.
The former Safa vice-president has been looking to throw a spanner in the works to derail the re-election of Danny Jordaan as president. “It’s not even worth it. Chief just talks all the time and I actually feel sorry for him because he knows how the processes work because he was in Safa,” Tsichlas said at a press conference hosted by the Football Transformation Forum (FTF).
“If it were up to me I would not even answer to Chief, it’s not worth it.
“Over the years I came to find out that Chief is someone who is easily influenced. He has been listening to everybody else but the people he promised to serve.”
Nonkonyana is leader of the lobby group known as National Football Consultative Forum (NFCF). The NFCF earlier in the month resolved to support the candidacy of Struggle veteran Tokyo Sexwale.
The candidacies of Nonkonyana and Sexwale have been cast in doubt due to them not being members of Safa.
Nonkonyana threatened to take Safa to Fifa for electoral irregularities. Tsichlas, though, is undeterred.
She said: “Everything has been done in the right way. We are not afraid of the threat to go to Fifa.
“We have done things the right way and all the laws have been adhered to. If they so wish to do they will be wasting their time.”
Jordaan is the favourite to win elections after 40 out of the 52 regions of Safa nominated him as claimed by FTF.
General secretary of the FTF Mzwandile Maforvane emphatically dismissed the candidacies of anyone other than Jordaan. “They stand no chance. Let them try, but it is clear from the regions that they are behind the current president for another term.”
‘‘ If it were up to me I wouldn’t even answer to the Chief