Tseka To Leave SAFA After The World Cup

Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka will leave the South African Football Association (SAFA) at the end of July next year.

Tseka, who has become a major source of concern within SAFA in recent months, is set to depart at the same time as head coach Hugo Broos. Broos has already confirmed that he will retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

In a surprising move, Tseka — who has already reached the retirement age of 60 — was offered a new two-year contract in October.

Sportswire has seen the contract issued to Tseka, although the document does not specify his salary.

“You are offered an appointment with effect from 01 October 2024 in the position of National Teams Manager,” reads the contract letter.

“We have made this offer on the basis that you have the requisite skills and experience.

“In this position you will report to the Technical Director of SAFA and/or any person so designated by him from time to time.”

However, it is alleged that SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao issued the contract without the knowledge of former SAFA technical director Walter Steenbok.

According to Sportswire sources, Steenbok was angered by this decision, feeling undermined by the CEO’s actions — a development believed to have contributed to his resignation.

Steenbok has since been replaced by former Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki as the new technical director.

This publication has also learned that Tseka does not possess a matric certificate.

The contract in Sportswire’s possession outlines Tseka’s key performance areas, which include:

• Developing and managing the strategic plan, budget, and programme for all national teams in collaboration with the head coach, assistant coaches, and technical staff.
• Planning training and match programmes for national teams and overseeing all logistical arrangements.
• Managing databases for national team players and technical staff, including selections, recognitions, rewards, and milestones.
• Managing and overseeing the performance of all national team managers.
• Providing administrative support to all national team coaches.

Despite these responsibilities, Tseka failed to carry out one of his core duties: tracking disciplinary records. He miscounted the yellow cards issued to Teboho Mokoena during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024.

This error resulted in Mokoena missing an automatic suspension. He should have been ruled out of the qualifier against Lesotho in March, but he played — a mistake that cost Bafana Bafana dearly. FIFA deducted three points from South Africa and awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory. Tseka, in his argument, said he missed the yellow card because he was fetching a pack of ice.

SAFA was also fined for negligence. The three-point deduction saw Bafana Bafana lose their top spot in the group, with Benin climbing to first place on goal difference.

Fortunately for South Africa, the error did not derail their campaign, as they later beat Rwanda and secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With Broos set to retire after the tournament, Tseka will follow him out of the association, with several SAFA insiders describing him as a “bungler.”