Safa: Nonkonyane to take fight to Jordaan

Sy Lerman

Declaring there was an urgent need to rid the Safa administration of “dormant structures and corrupt individuals”, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana (right), himself a suspended former vice-president of South African football’s controlling body, recently announced his candicacy to oppose incumbent Danny Jordaan in the looming contest for the organisation's presidency.

Chief Nonkonyane was booted out of Safa after expressing the view that then Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund should be stripped of his position if the national team failed to reach the final of the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations – with an ongoing war of words and court actions festering over the deposed vice-president’s suspension ever since.

The feud has not abated with Safa executive member and staunch Jordaan supporter, Mzwandile Maforvane, now proclaiming Nonkonyana could not be a legitimate candidate because of his suspension – aggravated by the fact that he has still not paid R900 000 in legal costs over the inflammatory issue.

And, in what might be construed a further attempt to clear the way for Jordaan’s re-election, Maforvane has also eliminated Lucas Radebe from the contest after the legendary former Bafana captain had announced his intention to be a candidate, because of his perceived lack of administrative background .

Nonkonyana, however, insists he is still in the race and his unjustified suspension applies only insofar as the vice-president position is concerned, while Radebe says he will seek clarity on the rules regarding election to the Safa presidency before deciding on a course of action.

Meanwhile, allegations of what has been termed a “Safa capture” have been directed at Jordaan, with the association’s website operating as a propaganda tool for the president.

But whether this is true or not, Jordaan continues to call the shots.