Leadership tussle: Sandile Zungu challenges Jordaan as Safa enters battle for its future

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> Despite his ongoing court case on allegations of fraud, current South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan remains the firm favourite to continue in the position for another four years. The federation will hold its elective congress on 12 September, with AmaZulu owner and businessman Sandile Zungu the only other challenger in the presidential race.

Danny Jordaan turned 75 on Thursday, 3 September. Despite his age, the incumbent South African Football Association (Safa) president believes he is the right person to continue leading the federation for another four years. Jordaan has been president of Safa since 2013, when he replaced Kirsten Nematandani.

Since then, he has successfully swatted aside his challengers and is currently serving his third term. Jordaan has been in and out of court since November 2024, when he was arrested and charged with fraud within Safa. Despite this, Jordaan still enjoys the overall backing of Safa’s national executive committee (NEC), as well as that of regional soccer structures affiliated with the custodian of South African soccer.

When he was arrested two years ago, there were calls for Jordaan to vacate his seat while he cleared his name in court. However, Safa has no such mandate in its constitution.

His arrest came along with those of Safa’s chief of finance, Gronie Hluyo, the federation’s former chief executive Russell Paul and businessman Trevor Neethling. The latter’s public relations company is said to have been used by Jordaan without following Safa protocols, when he was accused of rape before the 2018 elections.

The fraud matter is ongoing in court and is still in the pre-trial phase. Nonetheless, Jordaan is confident that he can once again emerge on top and quash the challenge of Sandile Zungu — a Durban-born entrepreneur and owner of Premiership club AmaZulu.

Jordaan has previously dismissed his ongoing legal woes as nothing more than a co-ordinated attack on his character by critics within the Safa structures.

“The campaign [against me] is intended to drive away the sponsors,” Jordaan said. “It only happens to football. It won’t happen to rugby and cricket.

“This is a political and vicious campaign, but we will stand our ground. We will deliver the football that people want in this country. We are not afraid; we’ve seen worse.”

Before that he served in the association in various capacities – a streak dating back to 1997 when he was appointed as chief executive. By his own words, he also played a pivotal role in bringing the 2010 Fifa World Cup to Africa.

Zungu, who will have to resign as AmaZulu president if he wins the Safa presidency, is banking on the legal challenges that Jordaan is facing to try to his experienced rival.

In recent years, Safa’s lack of fluid financial resources has been well publicised. In December 2024, Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie and his department rescued Safa’s employees from a bleak festive season.