ACTORS IN THE SA FOOTBALL UNITY PROCESS

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION: Formed by the clubs of the National Soccer League, the first president was Wilfried Maphaka from Kimberley, who was relatively obscure on the national scene, but the real power rested in general secretary Solomon Morewa (far right).

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: George Thabe had been the absolute ruler of SANFA for decades and was still a participant in unity process, but the organisation was headed by Goba Ndlovu. Most of the clubs underneath SANFA’s umbrella had defected to SASA.

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER FEDERATION:

Rama Reddy was the president of the SASF, who left SACOS to fall under the umbrella of the NSC at the time of the unity talks. Already in 1991, six clubs from the Federation Professional League joined the NSL, bringing an end to rivals professional leagues.

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA:

The white body controlled amateur football in white areas and the annual inter-provincial Currie Cup but had lost links to professional football when the NFL folded and white clubs crossed the racial divide to join the NPSL. Pretoria headmaster Tony Wilcox was the last FASA president.