SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) member Tankiso Modipa stated there was no chance they would allow an outsider like Sandile Zungu to win the SAFA presidential election at Vodacom World in Midrand on Saturday.
Modipa launched a scathing attack on Zungu, claiming the AmaZulu FC president only understood corporate business and lacked an understanding of SAFA’s grassroots structures.
According to Modipa, the NEC, regions, special and associate members, who all voted, felt Zungu was unfit to represent South African football on the global stage.
Zungu received 82 votes, losing out to incumbent Danny Jordaan, who secured 157 of the 379 ballots cast. The victory earns Jordaan a fourth four-year term at the helm of SAFA, extending his leadership until 2030.
The fourth consecutive victory extends his tenure to 17 total years by the time his mandate concludes in 2030.
“First of all, we were taught by elders in SAFA that we can never have someone who comes from outside the regions to lead SAFA,” said Modipa.
“That was for various reasons. Democracy in the country: when you deal with issues of SAFA, you must understand that there is a lower structure as well. You need to understand the lower structures right up to the highest structures, which is the national side, where we are now; we voted.
“We cannot be sure that we will get someone who comes from outside the structures of SAFA to come and lead SAFA. We have our own integrity to protect, our own dignity as SAFA to protect, as the president has alluded.
“We are competing with other countries in Africa, so we need someone who will understand the dynamics of football in the country first, before they go to COSAFA, CAF and FIFA.
“So, we don’t want to send a president who will represent the country and this association who doesn’t even understand SAFA football.
“This is a development part of South African football. There is a profession, which is the PSL, and unfortunately, the opponent today is coming from that side, which is merely about business.
“From our side as regions, we are not going to integrate with anyone yet. The opposition understands that we must bring him in at a local level if he wants, and he must start working from there.
“It will take him some time to understand the development structure because he only understands business. I think for now, it is impossible.”
Asked by Sportswire whether he would run again in 2030, Zungu admitted he was unsure.
Following his re-election, Jordaan spent nearly 25 minutes during the post-election press conference outlining his administration’s achievements over the past four years.
Known for his deep historical knowledge of the game, Jordaan reeled off statistics spanning from the inaugural 1930 World Cup to the 2010 tournament in South Africa, which he spearheaded as CEO.
