Sandile Zungu discusses Bailey’s backing, SAFA Presidency campaign, and his vision for SA football

Speaking to SABC Sport from his offices in Johannesburg today, Zungu says being in the same team with a seasoned football administrator like Bailey adds a lot of experience and credibility to his campaign. Bailey –  a SAFA Cape Town regional President, released a statement earlier this week, revealing that he’s dropped his own Presidential campaign to rally behind Zungu.

"Mr. Bailey is a very big name in soccer; there is no question about it. And everybody knew that he had raised his hand for the presidency of SAFA, and he made it very public. So, after listening to me, after being appraised of my vision for SAFA, and after hearing my responses to the challenges that come from the ground , him saying he's withdrawing his candidacy and throwing his full weight behind my campaign gave me goosebumps, to be honest," said Zungu

READ: Thabo Cele open to Kaizer Chiefs exit only on the right terms

"I was overjoyed because this is a big name who knows the ins and outs of what makes SAFA tick. So we are working with him to build and enhance support from other regions to build up towards the important day."

"I am very pleased with Mr . Bailey's pronouncement, and I am encouraged by the support that comes as a result of that and as a result of other initiatives every step of the way."

Nominations for the SAFA elections opened last month (13 June) and will close on the 29th of July, with Zungu most likely to come up against the incumbent Danny Jordaan, for the presidential position, should he pass the integrity and eligibility checks, going to the elections. Zungu says they are running their campaign on a ticket of unity, embracing all the football structures and factors that are out there, towards rebuilding the organisation and making the 52 regions stronger.

Backed by the Football Transformation Forum (FTF), Jordaan is still seen as the favourite, going into these elections with most of the regions still believed to be behind him. He’s not declared his candidacy yet, but the FTF is hard on the ground consolidating its support. 

Zungu has now been involved with football regularly for the past six years, since he bought the status of AmaZulu –  the oldest football club in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). He believes that during this period, which has also put him closer to the SAFA LFAs and regions, he’s grown to understand the serious challenges and needs at grassroots level.

Zungu has, for the past few weeks, been crisscrossing the country, visiting SAFA regions in different provinces ahead of the elective congress that will be held on the 12th of September this year. Another area of focus for the businessman is women’s football, and this is the approach they are adopting, to give attention to the women’s game on the ground, including professionalizing this space.

Zungu is backed by the Save Our SAFA (SOS) organisation, which is also made up of some SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) members and regions, and they believe that they can cause a major upset in the elections on the 12th of September, where delegates from the 52 regions, eight associate members and special member (PSL), will be casting their votes in a secret ballot.