Latest news with #SAFA
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Safa criticised for mishandling Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka situation
It was also revealed that Mdaka's salary is below R50,000 per month. This is in stark contrast to Bafana Bafana 's Belgian coach Hugo Broos , who reportedly earns a six-figure monthly salary. Mdaka led Amajita to the junior Afcon title last month, but according to reports, Safa has not processed bonuses due to the coach, while the footballing body's bonuses have been paid following the tournament. Challenges Facing South African Football Coaches: Issues with SAFA Support "The people that want to be coaches will most certainly be asking themselves, is this really the treatment that the coaches are getting? Which is not good for our youth football or South African football in general,' Mnguni told "The sad thing is, you can see that he's an old person; he's been around for a long time in football. My concerns are not solely about him as an individual, but more so about his family, his children, and wife, that his name is in the public like that and his salary has been made public information." "So, for the mental state of the family and the children, I think that's the sad part, that we just know such things all over the media. And could this have been handled better? Yes, definitely it could have been handled better, but the situation needs to be solved swiftly and needs to be addressed by Safa.' Mnguni went on to reveal that he has been trying to further his coaching qualifications, and has received little assistance from Safa. "Dealing with Safa is difficult. It's so difficult to go through Safa. I've won the league back-to-back. I've been trying to do my Caf B licence, and I find it difficult, even if I meet all the requirements, but I find it difficult just to say, Can I just do this course? Sometimes I feel like you need to know someone at Safa just to do this course.' "To be quite honest, I don't feel like it's easy to get communication through Safa. We are coaching youth football. I think we should be the ones who are prioritised for these coaching certificates because we need that knowledge so that we can develop better players. But if we find it this difficult to do a course, we won't reach our true potential.' @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
They are happy to be watched by drunkards
They are happy to be watched by drunkards SEDIBENG.- The so-called kasi football is slowly taking over organised football in the Vaal. It seems these young soccer stars idolise this so-called kasi football over structured football. However, Zakes' Sports Corner doesn't blame them, they were told that playing these kasi games is better than playing league matches, because the scouts might see them. There is no more respect for playing organised football, which falls under the South African Football Association (SAFA) structures. These players have been told that if they want to play at the highest level of football, playing this so-called kasi football will make their dreams come true. Really! In the past, playing football under SAFA structures was the wish of any boy growing up in the community. But not now! To some, playing leagues and organised football is just a waste of time. They would rather be happy to be watched by drunkards at the 'kasi football'. Please, don't misunderstand Zakes' Sports Corner, there is nothing wrong with playing those kasi football or community tournaments. But it is concerning when the youngsters choose them over structured football. It is not a secret that the standard of SAFA at the regional and LFA levels is not the same as before. As things stand, it has been a while since this region has had a team in the top-flight football. This is because 'kasi football' is more important than playing under SAFA structures. My point is that tournaments are being played all over Sedibeng. Gone are the days when playing under SAFA structures was a top priority. Like Zakes' Sports Corner said earlier, the youngsters have been misled by a certain individual that playing this 'kasi football' is better than wasting their time playing league matches. They were told that by playing kasi football, they stand a chance of being seen by the scouts. Se Voet! There is no doubt that this region is blessed when it comes to talented footballers; stats don't lie. This region is the breeding ground of South African football. How did we end up here as a region? No one knows! Zakes' Sports Corner believes that it is not too late to start over and go back to the way we used to respect structured football. It is not as if Zakes' Sports Corner hates kasi football or these community soccer tournaments. No, but there must be respect for structured football. These youngsters must know that playing under the SAFA structure is more important than playing so-called kasi football. This region deserves better when it comes to football. History has no blank pages! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
SAFA may dodge sanctions despite Bafana Bafana's player suspension oversight
In a significant development that arose this week after all the airtime arising from their engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is on the verge of evading sanctions for a serious oversight. At the heart of the discussions was an incident involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose suspension oversight could lead to severe repercussions for the association and their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying aspirations. However, indications suggest that SAFA is likely to sidestep any penalties. This came after the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was fielded in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho even though he was suspended. He picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe and was not eligible to play against Lesotho. Bafana, who defeated Lesotho 2-0 in that game, lead Group C with a five-point gap over second-placed rivals Rwanda and Benin. The other group teams are Nigeria (seven points), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four). CAF's secretariat plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of its tournaments, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying. They ensure match officials are well-informed about suspended players in meetings with match and team officials before the start of matches. This structured approach allows designated match commissioners and referees to be aware of any players who are barred from participating, thus upholding fairness in competition. In the case of the SA versus Lesotho match, this was not done, and it was not known that Mokoena had incurred an automatic suspension. Members of parliament deplored this disturbing display of administrative oversight and Bafana's management was put through the wringer for failing to execute basic organisational duties. This significant error went unnoticed by both the team and opponents, Lesotho. Two days after this match, the Nigerian Football Federation reportedly alerted Lesotho officials to this critical oversight. Lesotho and Nigeria have not formally announced protests to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding this contentious match. Despite the absence of an official filing, both nations are holding onto a flicker of hope that FIFA might intervene against the South Africans, sparking a potential firestorm in regional football politics. The window for protest submission has closed, as protests filed beyond the stipulated time frame are unlikely to be upheld, however, optimism lingers in both nations. The unresolved issues surrounding recent matches have left stakeholders in Lesotho and Nigeria questioning the integrity of competition and fairness within the African football sphere. A Nigerian-based football website has raised the Mokoena saga with monotonous regularity in the hope that CAF and FIFA will be strung into action. This has ignited fervent discussions in the football community across Africa. If CAF or FIFA intervened, it would affect the log positions of Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa. With only four rounds left in the qualifying matches, the possibility of FIFA's intervention has raised eyebrows as teams vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup. Changes in Nigeria and Lesotho's positions could emerge if SAFA is punished and this potential turn of events could drastically alter the landscape of the Group C World Cup qualifying rounds. Historically, FIFA has not shied away from taking stringent measures against teams that breach its rules, even in cases where there has not been an official complaint or protest lodged.
IOL News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
SAFA may dodge sanctions despite Bafana Bafana's player suspension oversight
Teboho Mokoena's selection controversy haunts Bafana Bafana South Africa may escape sanction over the fielding of the suspended Teboho Mokoena as Lesotho missed the 24-hour deadline to report the matter to the match commissioner or CAF. | BackpagePix In a significant development that arose this week after all the airtime arising from their engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is on the verge of evading sanctions for a serious oversight. At the heart of the discussions was an incident involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose suspension oversight could lead to severe repercussions for the association and their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying aspirations. However, indications suggest that SAFA is likely to sidestep any penalties. This came after the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was fielded in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho even though he was suspended. He picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe and was not eligible to play against Lesotho. Bafana, who defeated Lesotho 2-0 in that game, lead Group C with a five-point gap over second-placed rivals Rwanda and Benin. The other group teams are Nigeria (seven points), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four). CAF's secretariat plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of its tournaments, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying. They ensure match officials are well-informed about suspended players in meetings with match and team officials before the start of matches. This structured approach allows designated match commissioners and referees to be aware of any players who are barred from participating, thus upholding fairness in competition. In the case of the SA versus Lesotho match, this was not done, and it was not known that Mokoena had incurred an automatic suspension. Members of parliament deplored this disturbing display of administrative oversight and Bafana's management was put through the wringer for failing to execute basic organisational duties. This significant error went unnoticed by both the team and opponents, Lesotho. Two days after this match, the Nigerian Football Federation reportedly alerted Lesotho officials to this critical oversight. Lesotho and Nigeria have not formally announced protests to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding this contentious match. Despite the absence of an official filing, both nations are holding onto a flicker of hope that FIFA might intervene against the South Africans, sparking a potential firestorm in regional football politics. The window for protest submission has closed, as protests filed beyond the stipulated time frame are unlikely to be upheld, however, optimism lingers in both nations. The unresolved issues surrounding recent matches have left stakeholders in Lesotho and Nigeria questioning the integrity of competition and fairness within the African football sphere. A Nigerian-based football website has raised the Mokoena saga with monotonous regularity in the hope that CAF and FIFA will be strung into action. This has ignited fervent discussions in the football community across Africa. If CAF or FIFA intervened, it would affect the log positions of Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa. With only four rounds left in the qualifying matches, the possibility of FIFA's intervention has raised eyebrows as teams vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup. Changes in Nigeria and Lesotho's positions could emerge if SAFA is punished and this potential turn of events could drastically alter the landscape of the Group C World Cup qualifying rounds. Historically, FIFA has not shied away from taking stringent measures against teams that breach its rules, even in cases where there has not been an official complaint or protest lodged.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Fuming MPs put SAFA through the wringer over Teboho Mokoena yellow card gaffe
Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a goal Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a goal during Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 football match against Morocco. Photo: Sia Kambou/AFP Prominent Pietermaritzburg lawyer and sports administrator Poobalan 'Poobie' Govindasamy has stepped into the fray to rescue the South African Football Association (Safa) as it faced relentless criticism from the parliamentary sports portfolio committee. Govindasamy, SAFA's head of legal, was part of the national football delegation that endured a barrage of questions from fuming members on Wednesday. Their concerns were about governance, operations, and overall performance in promoting the sport on both local and international stages. However, a matter that had members seething with anger was the shocking yellow card bungle. As a result, the increasingly popular national team, Bafana Bafana, found itself at the centre of controversy. A few months ago, star midfielder Teboho Mokoena, featured in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, despite being suspended due to accumulating yellow cards. The issue sparked a wave of anger among MPs who questioned the team's management competency in handling player eligibility and disciplinary protocols. This gaff has South Africa standing on the brink of losing three crucial points in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers. This unprecedented bungle could thwart their aspirations for qualification outside of a World Cup hosted on home soil, a feat they last achieved back in 2002. MPs David Kgabo and Athol Trollip demanded clarity on why Safa has not held the responsible parties accountable for their actions and demanded the names of the people responsible. Govindasamy said it was the duty of the team manager, Vincent Tseka, to provide the information to the team ahead of the match. 'I understand the position of Teboho Mokoena's case. The match commissioner from Mauritius, appointed by FIFA and CAF, had not received a suspension letter notifying of Mokoena's situation. It was also not sent to SAFA and the match commissioner (the question of the two yellow cards),' he said. 'He played innocently, and it was only subsequently that the information came to light.' After MPs called for disciplinary steps against Tseka, Govindasamy said SAFA was at a standstill regarding potential action against Tseka, as it awaits crucial information from FIFA. Govindasamy explained the association cannot take any decisive steps until FIFA concludes its investigation into the matter. Govindasamy explained that the ongoing inquiry is a complex one, deeply tied to procedural oversights. 'With due respect, the matter is still under investigation (by FIFA),' Govindasamy replied. 'We've not received the final word on it. "When FIFA makes the decision, only then will Safa's investigation be completed. The investigation is currently incomplete. 'I think the problem was that FIFA, CAF and the match commissioner were not informed of the yellow cards. When you go to the match commissioner's meeting (before the start of a match), that's when you're alerted to this. 'Even Safa was not officially alerted of Mokoena's two yellow cards. It came up after the match.' SAFA president Danny Jordaan also stepped into the fray and promised that SAFA will take action after FIFA decides the matter. 'There will be accountability, but we must wait for all the reports to come in. 'If you act against any staff member, they have the right to take up the matter (in court). Our position is clear: we will defend the position on the side of what is right, but unfortunately, we cannot do that at this stage. 'We can plead that you give us some space so we can deal with the matter,' said Jordaan.
