South African Football Association (Johannesburg)
10 December 2011
It is now common knowledge that the South African Football Association (SAFA) withdrew the candidature of Dr Danny Jordaan from the elections for the Presidency of COSAFA on Friday, 9 December, 2011.
Recent newspaper articles have speculated that this was done to “avoid embarrassment” and some have even stated that Dr Jordaan faced a ‘humiliating defeat”.
We wish to place on record the facts surrounding our decision to take the action we did.
It was clear to us going into the election that it would be a very tight race. Of the 14 votes, South Africa was completely assured of six votes, with another four giving verbal commitments to our candidate. We were not, however, completely assured of these votes.
During the proceedings leading to elections, there were some members that expressed gratuitously hostile and aggressive attitudes against South Africa. On this basis the South African delegation decided that even if elected, Dr Jordaan would face a divided COSAFA, and that the nature of the changes he wanted to bring about in the organisation would require a strong mandate from the electorate. A narrow margin of victory would make it a difficult to lead such change.
In the interests of unity, therefore, SAFA decided to withdraw its candidate from the race, but at the same time expressed concerns about the process and some of the attitudes demonstrated by a minority of two.
“While we remain committed to building a strong Regional caucus within Southern and Eastern Africa, we cannot and will not allow our leadership to be treated in a dismissive manner,” said SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani. “We value and appreciate the significant international leadership that South Africa has exerted in international football.
“I also want to put it on record that statements flying around that we want to pull out of COSAFA have been taken out of context.
“All we said was that we are considering our participation to reach out on other continental regions like CECAFA and WAFU as COSAFA has only one age group tournament. Otherwise, how do we solidify COSAFA by pulling out?” added Nematandani.
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