SAFA Unshaken By Chaos Amid Commercial Success
Despite chaotic scenes at the South African Football Association (SAFA) headquarters this past weekend, CEO Lydia Monyepao insists that the new Standard Bank sponsorship signals massive confidence in the country’s national teams.
An unsavoury scene unfolded at SAFA House during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting — the highest decision-making body of the association — which descended into chaos.
The meeting was eventually abandoned amid reports that some NEC members oppose SAFA president Danny Jordaan seeking a fourth term in office.
The electoral congress is scheduled to take place in August this year, although no challenger has officially declared an intention to contest the position against the incumbent.
According to a Sportswire source, four members — Monde Montshiwa, Gladwyn White, Bhudda Mathathe, and Lebogang Riet — clashed with security personnel in footage that was widely shared on social media.
Security initially prevented the four members from entering the meeting, although they were eventually allowed inside.
Once in the boardroom, tensions escalated, with one of the members pointing a finger at Jordaan — who was seated alongside NEC members Nastasia Chiklas and Bennet Bailey — and accusing him of not having money.
According to the source, the individuals were allegedly jealous and had arrived with the intention of disrupting proceedings.
The incident came after SAFA secured two major commercial partnerships — a kit sponsorship deal with Adidas in December and a sponsorship agreement with Standard Bank, which was announced last Monday.
Despite the unsavoury scenes during the NEC meeting, where there was pushing and shoving, Monyepao said the association remains focused on the positive developments, particularly after SAFA’s long struggle to secure major sponsorships.
“It shows the confidence the corporate world has in us as an association and in our national teams,” said Monyepao.
“For us, it is really positive; it is something we have been looking for.
“It means we can invest more in our players and in our national teams.”
At the moment, Bafana Bafana have three months to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico in June.
Meanwhile, Banyana Banyana will compete in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July after the tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco, was postponed from March.
