Factions in Safa on collision course at congress

A POTENTIAL showdown is looming over the contents of the agenda that will guide proceedings at the SA Football Association’s (Safa) Extraordinary Constitutional Congress in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The push to change the body’s constitution to allow Premier Soccer League and Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza to run for president is not on the agenda, and according to a footnote on the document in the possession of the Sunday Times, the agenda of the congress may not be altered.

This could put the factions bidding for control of the mother body on a collision course as Safa vice-president Mandla Mazibuko — who represents a delegation that is trying to convince Khoza to run — said they hoped the congress would still hear their proposal to amend the constitution and allow club owners to stand for president, despite missing the cut-off date for submissions.

‘‘The congress and only the congress can decide what is accepted and what is not,” said Mazibuko.

‘‘It is the delegates who must decide what must be in and what must be out (on the agenda). I was at a (Safa emergency committee) meeting (on Friday) and there were things that were introduced that were never on the agenda. As far as I am concerned, we know what we are talking about.”

Safa national executive committee member Mzwandile Maforvane said the disagreement could get out of hand and he was bracing himself for ‘‘potential chaos” on Saturday.

‘‘I expect that (chaos) and I am bracing myself for it,” said Maforvane. ‘‘When people see that things are not going their way, they destabilise things.

‘‘The chairman has to be firm on the day because this has the potential to become chaotic.”

The Safa constitution does not

A proposal to amend the constitution might still be considered

allow club owners to stand for president and Mazibuko said while they hoped their pleas would be heard, his delegation would respect whatever decision is taken.

Two weeks ago Safa CEO Dennis Mumble said for the constitution to be amended the members must receive 30 days’ notice, and Safa did not see such a proposal before the deadline.

Should the issue not be considered at this month’s congress, a proposal to amend the constitution might still be considered as long as it is submitted about a month before Safa’s elective congress on September 28.

But the group will need 75% of the house to vote in its favour before a motion is considered.

Safa president Kirsten Nematandani is the only candidate who has officially put up his hand and announced his intention to run for a second term. Vice-presidents Danny Jordaan and Khoza have not confirmed their positions officially.

Maforvane said Safa was struggling to function normally as the presidential elections have taken centre stage, making it difficult for operations to function normally.

He said the announcements of new sponsorships, the launch of development initiatives and the implementation of some Safa programmes have been forced to take a back seat until after the elections.

‘‘Everything has come to a standstill because of this election,” Maforvane said.