In response to recent speculation surrounding former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe's expressed desire to become the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), the organization released a statement on November 27, 2023, shedding light on their current priorities and election procedures.
The SAFA Membership Committee, endorsed by the National Executive Committee, emphasized that the last election was held in 2022 for a four-year term, making the next presidential election due in 2026. Contrary to the structure of the U.S. presidential election, SAFA's electoral process encompasses various positions, including President, National and Provincial members, and all National Executive Committee (NEC) positions.
Key points outlined in the statement include:
1. The election involves 52 Regions and Associate members as voters.
2. Potential presidential candidates must be nominated by constituent groups and pass an integrity test.
3. The Governance Committee will publish a list of eligible candidates.
🦉 Night Owls FC 🦉
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) November 28, 2023
How is it that @SAFA_net have so much time on their hands to respond to a human being like @LucasRadebe merely expressing his desire to be President of the Association!!
🤣 "The point we are making is that we are busy with football, and we wll not
entertain… pic.twitter.com/ogKBPd7bI2
Furthermore, the statement highlighted efforts in coach training, preparation for school-level championships, leagues like ABC Motsepe and SASOL, and the promotion of Hollywood Bet final matches and awards. The SAFA is also actively involved in national team preparations, youth development, referees training, and school competitions and academies.
In response to SAFA's statement, some social media users pointed out the apparent contradiction in the association's claim of being too busy for distractions while responding to Radebe's aspirations. Notably, Robert Marawa humorously suggested that SAFA might be busy with "PlayStation" in the comment section.
The situation has sparked discussion among football enthusiasts, with opinions divided on SAFA's response and the timing of Radebe's announcement amidst the association's ongoing football initiatives.
