“Jordaan’s experience has been forged over more than three decades at virtually every level of administration. His contribution spans the unification of South African football following apartheid, successful delivery of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa, leadership of SAFA as president for three terms and appointment to various international bodies, including FIFA committees and serving as a general co-ordinator of international competitions.

Jordaan’s track record in football administration is a highly polarised legacy, defined on one hand by monumental historic achievements on the global stage, and on the other by recent governance crises, financial distress, and criminal charges. He has been a dominant force in South African sports leadership for more than three decades”.

 

In a nutshell, the above is how Google summarises your contribution, professional achievements and track record in football administration in a period spanning three to four decades. An impressive record worthy of celebration by all.

Truth be told, you have had one of the most brilliant track records in football management and administration in South Africa, and we are all proud of your achievements, especially your role in securing for our country the privilege of hosting the first FIFA World Cup on the African continent in 2010.

Under the able leadership of Irvin “The Duke” Khoza, together with Molefi Oliphant, your team served our country with distinction, and the nation has never ceased thanking you for that historic and monumental feat. History books will also never overlook your achievements. In my recent book on Bafana Bafana, I have also highlighted your distinguished career as a football administrator.

Now, after 12 years as SAFA president and nearly 40 years as a football administrator, I implore you to call it a day and bow out with dignity in the SAFA elective conference on 12 September 2026. Please, leave the stage when the audience still enjoys the show. 

When President Nelson Mandela completed his first term in 1999 and was exhorted by millions of his supporters to stay on and run for a second term, he humbly declined  the offer and opted for a dignified and memorable retirement, setting a good tone for a continent in which most leaders prefer to die in office rather than relinquish power.

Knowing your respect for Madiba, I am convinced that you would have no problem emulating your role model.

You have served your country with distinction and it is time to leave the stage while people still respect you. If at 75 you still seek office and succeed, you will be almost 80 by the time your presidency comes to an end. This is not good for you and surely bad for the country. After so many years of patriotic service, it is indeed the perfect time to spend more time with your grandchildren and enjoy their company. It is the perfect time to hand over the baton to a younger, energetic and more entrepreneurial generation of leaders in South African football. If you do that, by withdrawing as a candidate for president of SAFA in next week’s elective conference, you will protect your great legacy and earn an enduring admiration of the people of South Africa. Just do it, my president.   

Let me take you down memory lane to 2022. Immediately after winning the SAFA presidential election for a third term in June 2022, you told the media: “For the next term, which is 2026 to 2030, I won’t be there. I must tell you now, this is my last term.”

Now, Mr President, please keep your 2022 word because that is the only thing you have. Don’t even think about reneging on your generous and publicly made statement which impressed everyone and earned you respect in the country.

Remember that the same people who were at the 2022 conference will be attending the 2026 conference next weekend. For them to continue to respect you, just keep your word. This is the essence of integrity that Madiba taught you.

I am personally surprised and perturbed to read and hear that you want to contest for the presidency for a fourth term. If this is true, disaster beckons, and your great legacy in football will soon be in tatters.

Mr President, if you carefully look at what is happening in continental and global football, you will agree with me that you belong to an older era of leadership that is progressively giving way to a younger generation of leaders, especially on the African continent. When you assumed the position of CEO of SAFA in 1997 at the age of 46, Samuel Eto’o  was 16 and contracted to Real Madrid but loaned to CD Leganes; in 2010, When you were hosting the 2010 World Cup as an administrator, Eto’o was playing for Inter Milan in Italy; in 2013, when you became president of SAFA, he was playing for Chelsea in England. Today, Samuel Eto’o o is the president of the Cameroon Football Association while you still remain the president of SAFA.  Does this appeal to your conscience? I hope I have driven my point home that it’s time to call it a day Mr President. 

It was Gramsci who said that “while the old refuse to die, the new are struggling to be born”. As my fellow comrade in the progressive movement of Oliver Tambo, I know you have read Gramsci Mr President. Let the young lions of football take the baton from you into a new brave future.   

Today, business acumen is a core requirement for a national football president and Patrice Motsepe is a case in point. Motsepe’s arrival in football and business leadership has not only transformed Mamelodi Sundowns into the best football outfit in South Africa, it has also helped turn CAF into a globally respected African football powerhouse. Under your leadership, sponsorship has dried up and SAFA exists in a permanent state of bankruptcy. Only a leader with business acumen will appeal to business to invest in SAFA. There is no way you can solve a crisis you have created yourself . Impossible!

The point I am making above is that business people only trust other business colleagues in organisations like SAFA. It is called risk mitigation. For as long as you remain at the helm of SAFA, it will be difficult to sponsor the game in large numbers. So, for the sake of the country, please give way to more attractive and younger leaders. That is patriotic duty.

Now, let me move on to a very critical point. There is a perception in the country that your attempt to seek a fourth term is typical of dictators on the continent who would rather die in office rather than surrender power at the height of their popularity.  This is a dangerous perception and I do not agree with this school of thought that you harbour such dictatorial ambitions. However, only you can dispel such perceptions through your deeds. 

Remember that you are currently in court over allegations of fraud and corruption. That, on its own, should disqualify you from seeking a fourth term. A man of your political history and experience should know that seeking office under such a cloud is morally and ethically untenable. So just do the right thing Mr President. 

Should you win the presidency of SAFA  because of your loyalists in the SAFA regions who are the main delegates from the regions, your new term in office will be characterised by national outrage and permanent hostility from the majority of the soccer loving people of South Africa . It will be bad for football. It will be bad for South Africa.

I must remind you, Mr President, that your current term of office has not covered itself in glory. While you and your NEC must, in all fairness, take credit for Bafana Bafana’s brilliant qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the fact that, for the first time, South Africa reached the knockout stage of this world contest under coach Hugo Broos, some negative developments are worth noting in your current term of office.

The Tebogo Mokoena episode, in which our country was docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible Mokoena in a qualifier against Lesotho enraged the nation.This reckless negligence nearly cost our country a place in the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup. The nation was outraged by this kind of incompetence and the fact that no action was taken by you against the culprit responsible for this crime.  

To add insult to injury, the same culprit was allegedly responsible for another misdemeanour that led to Bafana Bafana leaving a day late for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with dire consequences, including the late arrival of assistant coach Helman Mkhalele in Mexico. Your leadership in these unfortunate incidents was called into question. 

The current circus surrounding VAR technology is turning into a major embarrassment for SAFA in general and you in particular. These shenanigans have so infuriated the Minister of Sport that he has publicly criticised SAFA and accused the association of corruption and incompetence. Minister McKenzie alleges that his department donated R30 million to SAFA to procure the much-needed VAR technology and that, months later, no progress has been made. In the few games that have been played in the new PSL season, the urgent need for VAR technology is so glaring sir. I hope you and the Minister find each other and that soon the technology will be available to improve our standard football. 

Finally, my President, please let common sense and reason prevail for the sake of our country. Just hand over the baton next week and protect your brilliant legacy. 

Sello Lediga has published 4 books, two of them on football.
His latest book, Ndizani Bafana Bafana – The Comeback Story of a Nation, is now available online.