Drastic changes at Safa as Bafana assistant coach quits
Walter Steenbok appointed new technical director
The South African Football Association (Safa) has made drastic changes to its structures at its national executive committee (NEC) meeting since president Danny Jordaan won the elective congress in June.
The national association has appointed three new vice-presidents, and unveiled renowned talent scout Walter Steenbok as the new technical director for the association. This post has been vacant since the departure of former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey. Steenbok came in at a difficult time when Bafana assistant coach Cedo Janevski resigned from his position as coach Hugo Broos’ righthand man. Janevski has taken the job as head coach of AEL Limassol in Cyprus. Broos will now have to soldier on with one assistant in Helman Mkhalele.
Linda Zwane, Bennett Bailey and Natasha Tsichlas are the new Safa vice-presidents. The fourth vice-president is Irvin Khoza, who automatically gets the nod by virtue of being PSL chairman.
Zwane is from Delmas in Mpumalanga, while Bailey is from the Western Cape and a former Safa Cape Town president. Tsichlas is a veteran football administrator who has served on many committees at Safa and the league.
“There were three issues. The NEC appointed the three vice-presidents and their mandate is to serve the NEC,” said Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe.
“I have also informed the NEC about the amicable parting of ways with Bafana Bafana assistant coach Cedo. After discussing with coach Broos, we decided not to deny him the opportunity and we parted ways with him, even though we had a running contract with him.
“Coach Broos is comfortable with one assistant coach but the situation can change if the coach comes back at a later stage and says that he needs an assistant. We will be guided by the coach.”
“The NEC has resolved to bid for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup. The association will duly inform Fifa and start the process of bidding and hosting the tournament. Third, the technical committee has made a recommendation to the NEC to appoint Steenbok as the new technical director. The NEC has provisionally approved him as the technical director.”
“I am ready to serve the national association with distinction and commitment,” said Steenbok.