Heads must roll: Why SAFA must pay for football’s biggest stuff-up
Be accountable: SAFA president Danny Jordaan should take rsponsibility for the blunder that could cost Bafana Bafana their place in next year's World Cup. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
The South African Football Association must take full accountability for the monumental blunder that’s cost Bafana Bafana their top spot in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers.
As a country, we watched with pride as Bafana delivered one of their best qualifying campaigns in 25 years, believing the team would book their place in North America with ease.
Now, they face the massive task of winning both remaining games and praying other results go their way. Their fate was once in their hands. Not anymore. All because someone couldn’t keep track of yellow cards.
It should have been flagged that Teboho Mokoena was ineligible to face Lesotho. Instead, Bafana’s 2-0 victory has been overturned into a 3-0 defeat. What a fiasco. If South Africa miss out on the World Cup because of this, heads must roll – starting with SAFA president Danny Jordaan.
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Under Jordaan’s watch, SAFA has become a laughing stock. The organisation is reportedly financially crippled, struggling to pay players and staff on time, unable to secure strong sponsorships, and with almost no broadcast income. To make matters worse, Jordaan and several executives were arrested less than a year ago on allegations of fraud, a case still before the courts.
This blunder couldn’t have come at a worse time. South Africans were beginning to fall in love with Bafana again. Thanks to Broos and his staff, the team has played entertaining football, with every player fighting for the jersey.
But with SAFA run so chaotically, it’s little wonder such negligence slipped through the cracks.
The saddest part is the players themselves. They have poured everything into this campaign, only to see their hard work undermined by an administrative error beyond their control. For a squad that has shown resilience and unity on the pitch, this is an insult they did not deserve.
Then there are the fans. Stadiums have slowly begun to fill again, with South Africans daring to believe in Bafana Bafana’s revival. Now, many supporters are left wondering whether the dream of returning to the world stage will once again be snatched away by incompetence at the top.
If SAFA truly cares about the future of South African football, this cannot be brushed aside as just another mistake.
The organisation requires accountability, transparency, and serious reform. Otherwise, Bafana Bafana will keep paying the price for a mother body that is supposed to protect and promote them – but instead keeps dragging them down.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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