Confident FTF endorses Jordaan for a fourth term as SAFA President

This was confirmed to SABC Sport by the FTF chairperson and national convener of elections Tankiso Modipa during an exclusive interview to look ahead to the elections. Jordaan, who turns 75 in September, has occupied the SAFA presidential seat since 2013, and should he prevail in the next elections, he would be in power until 2030.  Modipa has more on how they have arrived at this decision.

"Most of the people in the country, they don't want the president to stand for the fourth term. I will give you a brief explanation that SAFA has invested a lot in Dr. Jordaan," said Modipa 

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"Dr. Jordaan himself, our SAFA president, he's the only man in Africa who was the CEO of the World Cup that is ranked number one in the world. It's very difficult for me to understand when people are saying he must go. Now, in SAFA, we had a problem with our Vice Presidents. That is a fact."

"Whoever we put there as a Vice President, the next time you want to be the President, instead of learning from Dr. Jordaan, so that whatever he gained, because nobody will buy that experience."

"You also don't want the national body that when someone comes in, it comes from where it is like now, where we are. Qualifying for the World Cup, qualifying for the AFCON, winning U20 AFCON, then it drops because you look at the leaders from where they come from. You look, my success in the NEC should be weighed by success at SAFA Overberg, success at SAFA Western Cape, because I've led there. So that should measure my success to take SAFA forward."

Based on the latest developments, Jordaan is set to come up against AmaZulu FC President Sandile Zungu for the presidential position. But Modipa appeared to be questioning his capabilities to run for this position.

Immediately after he had won the last SAFA elections in June 2022, Jordaan announced during the press conference in Sandton Convention Centre that this would be his last term, and would not contest the next elections, instead he would help to search for his successor. But now that he’s contesting, Modipa clarifies why there’s a change of heart from the former SAFA and 2010 World Cup CEO, and on their part as the FTF.

One of Jordaan’s Vice-Presidents, Bennet Bailey, who is also the President of SAFA Cape Town, was the first person to come out openly that he was going to contest for the top seat in September. But he has since withdrawn from the race and is rallying behind Zungu’s campaign. Modipa is also questioning his motives.

The FTF is set to hold its congress in Limpopo next week, where Modipa says topping the agenda will be the finalization of their list of members, who will serve in the new NEC after the 12th of September, should their campaign be successful. He has no doubt that Jordaan will prevail and clinch his fourth term.