Question mark over Jordaan
Would you turn down the chance to drive a sleek Ferrari for a more modest and distinctly less prestigious model?
This, nevertheless, appears the “reverse” direction logic adopted by Safa president Danny Jordaan this week when he withdrew from the race for a place on Fifa’s executive in preference to gaining a position on the more insular Caf African regional body.
On the surface it would seem to make little sense, although Southern Africa’s Cosafa segment, presumably with insular considerations, have come out in favour of the Safa president’s change of heart and devoting his attention to Caf affairs instead of Fifa.
But, of course, Jordaan could have served both Fifa and Caf if elected – just as others have filled both roles.
And what intriguingly has also emerged at breakneck speed into the puzzle is the revelation that all the worldwide candidates for election to the Fifa executive need first to pass an ethics test to remain under consideration for election. Fifa has confirmed that the 10 remaining candidates for the outstanding positions on soccer’s world controlling body executive have satisfied this proviso and will remain in the running.
Because of withdrawing his Fifa nomination, Jordaan was not ultimately subjected to the ethics test, but this may well have nothing to do with his turn of direction. And Safa sources maintain the ethics proviso had nothing to do with Jordaan pulling out.
But it is no secret that Safa’s president, whose ambitions extended to a brief, but aborted spell as mayor of Port Elizabeth, has long viewed the prospect of a prominent place on the Fifa hierachy, with whom he has enjoyed long-standing connections.
So, with the metaphorical Ferrari looming at Fifa’s administrative starter’s line, why has Jordaan done an about-turn and firmly put his foot down on the brake?
He aroused shock and disbelief when he terminated a brief spell as Orlando Pirates coach immediately after the Buccaneers shock 6-1 defeat against SuperSport United early in the current PSL season.
Cosmopolitan, worldly-travelled Turkish-German coach Muhsin Ertugral, who after many years of involvement in the local Premier League, says South Africa now ranks as his second home, yesterday admitted before departing for Istanbul that “it could all have been different had I discussed the matter with club chairman Irvin Khoza before making my spontaneous decision”.
“I don’t say it would have been different,” added Ertugral, “But Irvin is a persuasive man and he might have made me hold on over the issues that were on my mind. It might have been different.
“But all that is now water under the bridge,” said the seasoned, at times explosive, but invariably insightful coach. “Pirates have now appointed a new coach in Kjell Jonevret and I believe he has made a promising start to his tenure. As for the full story behind my resignation, it wouldn’t be in the interest of anyone to go into that now and I wish Pirates all the best in the future.”
Ertugral said he was leaving for Europe to investigate the prospects of several propositions offered him in Turkey and elsewhere. There had been several approaches from PSL clubs immediately after his less-than-happy departure from Pirates, but he did not have an appetite to coach in the Premier League at the time.
“But you never know,” added the man who made his mark here with Kaizer Chiefs, Ajax Cape Town and Black Aces, among others, “what happens in the soccer coaching business and this could well change in the future”.
And Ertugral admitted one of the ambitions remaining in his varied and largely successful career was for the opportunity to coach Bafana Bafana one day.
“I know that Safa have lined up a candidate to fill the position held by Shakes Mashaba,” he added. “But who knows what can happen in the future and I believe I am well qualified to do the job at Bafana.”
He also has a permanent home in Cape Town and says when he finally retires, it will be to settle down in South Africa.
Meanwhile, heading the list of memorable moments he has experienced in the country are the meeting with Nelson Mandela, guiding Chiefs to winning the Caf Cup Winners title and the close friendship and associaition he enjoyed with Chiefs chairman and co-founder Kaizer Motaung.
The most gifted South African player he encountered? The talented, but enigmatic Jabu Pule.