Tankiso Modipa Defends SAFA Election System Against ‘Fly-By-Nights’

Despite the re-election of Danny Jordaan as SA Football Association President over the weekend, the systems that guide the election process have received scrutiny, with many arguing that it is exclusive and ensures that no one from outside the association can come in and lead. 

Football Transformation Forum leader Tankiso Modipa reiterated that the system is actually lenient and that it should tighten up even more for outsiders.

The System Is Lenient?

Jordaan beat Sandile Zungu during the SAFA Elective Congress that was held in Midrand on Saturday, with Jordaan assuming the role of SAFA president for a fourth consecutive term, having received 157 votes to Zungu’s 82.

Many who are informed of the systems that guide the elections were not surprised by the result, as they understand that SAFA’s National Executive Committee holds most of the power.

Given that Zungu was an outsider while Jordaan had all the ties and bonds within the association, it was almost certain that the 75-year-old would comfortably assume the presidency role.

It did not matter what Zungu said about Jordaan and SAFA in the media leading up to the elections. It was the NEC members he needed to sway in his favour, not the general public, who in all actual fact have no say or control in the elective congress.

As a result, many people around the country have criticised the system, calling it out for its exclusivity to the individuals who are within SAFA structures and not those who are on the outside but desire to play a hand in the decision-making of the sport of football in the country.

On the contrary, FTF leader Modipa argued against the critics, citing that the system is actually lenient. 

Modipa believes that the system should be tighter and not give room for outsiders to come and dictate terms when they don’t know what they would do should they get the leadership ropes.

“The system should be tightened up even more. The way it is now, it is still lenient, because you give that decision to a governance committee who can determine who qualifies and doesn't qualify based on our statute,” Modipa told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“We don't know what they (people outside the organisation) are going to do, because why would they only be interested when it's election time? We cannot allow lawlessness in SAFA." 

“SAFA is not for sale, because it's the only association that black, white or any Indian people who are poor, who don't have anything, can still get access to play soccer. We have to protect that. I can defend SAFA left, right and centre." 

“We are not apologetic about it. We will defend SAFA; we will protect it against those people who think they can throw their money around and ensure that they are in control of the association of the people of this country.”

CAF & COSAFA Templates

Modipa made an example of CAF and COSAFA, saying that there you can not go in and contest for leadership roles if you do not come from the member associations, a feat that is allowed within SAFA.

“You cannot just march into COSAFA, because you also love COSAFA, you love Southern African football, you just go there, you contest; you must come from the member association, which is SAFA,” said Modipa.

“You cannot march into CAF just because CAF is African football; you are from South Africa, you think you have the right to be there." 

“You cannot, because there are rules and regulations that you must follow. You must have come from a member, which is SAFA, for you to even contest there. It's worse at CAF, because one person per country can be eligible to go into the CAF executive committee." 

“There should be laws that will stop all these fly-by-nights who want to use SAFA," he concluded.