Why Khoza needs to back down

For several years now, the relationship between Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan has been fraught with tension. They are, after all, the most formidable soccer administrators in the country and they have played a crucial role in securing South Africa the rights to host the 2010 World Cup and overseeing the mammoth task of hosting the quadrennial showpiece of international soccer.

As a result of Fifa’s intervention, they occupy the two top positions on the 2010 Organising Committee (chairperson and CEO) and global soccer’s governing body has monitored their progress closely. And so, there was a great deal of concern when these heavyweights battled it out for the presidency of the SA Football Association (Safa).

Fifa expressed its alarm months ago, saying the elections should be postponed until after the 2010 World Cup. This appeal was brushed aside and Fifa subsequently issued a terse warning that it would not tolerate any disruptions within the committee tasked with staging the biggest event of any kind on the African continent.

“When we see that competition is very tough between two people we are working closely within the organisation — we have to protect the organisation of the World Cup,” said Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke.

The Safa AGM was held under a cloud (and a blanket of heavy security) as Jordaan and Khoza squared up to contest the most influential sports administration position in the country. But, before a single vote was cast, Jordaan and then Khoza recused themselves from the process. Kirsten Nematandani, was unanimously elected and everyone — from Zeerust to Zurich — breathed a sigh of relief.

The Safa veteran is a popular choice and, in his first few days in office, he has pledged to right all the wrongs on, and off, the field. “Maybe having a new kid on the block will help Safa and soccer in this country,” noted legend Jomo Sono.

But, the honeymoon was short-lived with Khoza now crying foul over the election process. Jordaan, on the other hand, says it is time to move on to avoid any “uncertainty, instability and more acrimony”. Exactly. The administration of South African soccer — and the 2010 World Cup — is not about individuals. Rather, it’s a team effort, so this is the time to pull together.