Cup of woes follows SA

IT may all seem like a replay of an old familiar tune. The pullout of a country in hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for whatever reason and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) looking south to get this country to step in to stave off yet another crisis. It happened in 1995 when Kenya was found ill-prepared to host the tournament and due to its economic muscle Africa’s governing body called on South Africa to step into the breach.

With limited time to get the nittygritty of organising a 16-team tournament with all its logistical problems – just under two months – SA Football Association (Safa) did it well.

Safa saw the benefits: It would guarantee Bafana Bafana a spot in the tournament and it would also give exposure to Africa’s new democracy under the statesmanship of Nelson Mandela.

This week Safa president Danny Jordaan suggested that they would love to host the tournament next year if they got the necessary guarantees from the South African government.

Certainly, with an expanded 24-team tournament, it will cost a pretty penny.

Safa just do not have the money to stage this competition and many will feel, for heaven’s sake why should it do so again.

Caf knows that South Africa, after its 2010 World Cup success, has the infrastructure of top-class stadiums, excellent transport facilities, toprange hotels and the security to ensure a smooth-running event.

The country has no internal conflict issues, unlike much of Africa. For instance, Bafana are forced to play their Nations Cup 2019 qualifier against Libya in Tunisia because of security concerns in that country.

With few options available Caf is in a sticky corner after stripping Cameroon of its hosting rights due to domestic issues in that country.

Jordaan is singing all the right noises about helping out, but is likely to face pushback from those who feel that Caf must gets its house in order and not rely on the very country most of its members detest for envious reasons. Jordaan should be the first to recognise this.

The former Eastern Cape administrator has had high ambitions to seek higher office both at continental and Fifa level. He has been held in high esteem in Fifa circles, but he cannot say the same of his African peers.

He has been cold-shouldered whenever he tried to advance at Caf and Cosafa levels. He should tread carefully before leaping in again.

Safa just do not have the money to stage this competition and many will feel, for heaven’s sake why should it do so again