THE TRANSFORMATION OF
SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
SAFA
SAFA President’s Address
Mr Kirsten Nematandani
Transformation in SA Football
Transformation is an ongoing process and not an event. It is a journey of lifetime and a journey that
requires us to speak the same language of respect, self-respect, tolerance, diversity, equity and
fairness. Transformation is the bed-rock of social engagement, social cohesion, public discourse,
agreeing to disagree but not to lose focus of who we are as a Nation and as people of the African
Continent, imbued with the spirit of UBUNTU/BOTHO/HUMANENESS. Transformation is about laying
to rest the ghosts of the past which had plagued South Africa for too long and such ghosts are Racism,
Discrimination, Ethnicity, Tribalism, Intolerance, Sexism, Superiority Complex, Being Judgemental,
Corporate Bullying and regarding one’s own views as being superior that those other people.
Transformation is about bringing about radical changes to current structural systems for the betterment
of an Institution and thereby building and promoting a culture of mutual respect, trust, co-operation,
tolerance and humaneness. Transformation is also about the promotion of moral, ethical values and
this enhancement of moral regeneration.
Within the context of the above broad definitive of Transformation, an Integrated Transformation Plan
will attempt to find strategic direction of SAFA’s transformation Trajectory. The mere fact that there is
such keen interest on transformation is an admission of guilt that there is something drastically wrong
with our system and that same needs a systemic and structural overhaul.
An Integrated Transformation Plan will thus find resonance with the following explanations which in a
sense highlight the centrality of a palpable transformation agenda:
Transformation in SA Football
1/
Dictionary Sense
Transformation refers to a complete and fundamental change which radically affects the
Nature of something, especially for the better
2/
Sociological Sense
- Transformation influences the behavioural patterns of Society
- Barack Obama’s election slogan “Yes We Can”
- Jacob Zuma’s election slogan “Working together we can do more”
3/
Legal Sense
- Cf The Bill of Rights – Chapter 2 of the South African Constitution
- Bill of Rights is a corner stone of Democracy
- It enshrines the rights of all people
- It affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom
4/
Political Transformation
- Wind of Change blowing all over South Africa (Sir Harold MacMillan) on 3 February 1960
- Transferring of political power from white minority regime to black majority regime
–South African context- This is so, but American context is different!
Transformation in SA Football
Tsediso Thipanyane, addressing the BMF Conference in 2008 said:“Our struggle was for the transformation of a political social and
economic order that will ensure a better life for all people”
No one can therefore disagree with Tsediso on these sentiments and so transformation
trajectory is at heart of all these change processes.
FOOTBALL TRANSFORMATION
- Racial
- Economic
- Sport Performance
- Governance
- Administration
- National Priorities
Transformation in SA Football
Transformation of South African football is a continual process of assessment,
implementation, reevaluation and reinvention.
Transformation, in its broadest context, must be tackled on several fronts and is
being implemented accordingly:
Racial
National
Priorities
Economic
Admin
Sport
Performance
Governance
SA Football’s Path to the Present
1862 -1990
1991 –1997
1997 –2004
2004 -2010
BEYOND
2010
Become
No. 1 in Africa
Post-Pickard
Era
Build capacity
to deliver
world-class
WC
•Build worldclass FA
•Build worldclass FA
•Deliver worldclass WC
•Host other
World Cups
•Build worldclass national
teams
•Build worldclass national
teams
THE ERA
CHALLENGE
RESPONSE
Overcome
apartheid
Unite & Adjust
to FIFA &
CAF membership
4 raciallydivided
associations
Hosted &
won
1996
African
Cup of
Nations
Noteworthy
achievements *
 Reach Top
10 in World
*
’97 -FIFA U-20 Youth Champ
’98 -WC France
’99 –Afr Wmns Champs in SA
’00 -U-20 Afr Youth Champs
‘00 –Sydney Olympics
’02 –WC in Korea-Japan
’04 -2010 rights awarded
Aims & Objectives of SAFA – Article 8 - SAFA Constitution
8.1
To promote, advance, administer, co-ordinate and generally encourage the game of football
in South Africa in accordance with the principles as laid down in the statutes of FIFA;
8.2
To consider and establish rules to control football in South Africa;
8.3
To enforce the Laws of the Game as promulgated by FIFA from time to time to protect the game
against any form of abuse;
8.4
To initiate, negotiate, arrange, finance and control tours and matches of teams to and from South
Africa;
8.5
To settle disputes arising between members or bodies or persons connected directly or indirectly
with football within the jurisdiction of the Association;
8.6
To raise and administer the funds of the Association in such a manner as the Association may deem
advisable and in particular by means of subscriptions, donations and sponsorships;
8.7
To acquire and develop playing facilities including the construction of stadia;
8.8
To affiliate to CONFEDERATION AFRICAINE
INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
COMMITTEE (SASCOC);
8.9
To distribute monies to its Members for the protection, promotion and advancement of amateur
football;
8.9
To do all things as may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objectives or any
one of them.
DE FOOTBALL (CAF), FEDERATION
(FIFA), SA SPORTS & OLYMPIC
The SAFA Mission
Statement
The South African Football Association, as the governing body of
football in South Africa, is committed to:
►Promoting and facilitating the development of football through
sustainable infrastructural and training initiatives;
►Engaging in pro-active dialogue with the government to
generate a partnership in recognition of football as a national
asset;
►Creating an image of being a stable, progressive and
innovative institution;
►Creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the corporate
world;
►Contributing to Africa’s ascendancy in world football through the
hosting of major events in Africa, while aspiring and striving to
become a leading football playing nation.
MODERN FOOTBALL’S
NEW REALITY
Modern Football’s New Reality
The river used to flow freely and
everyone
could
draw
water
downstream ........ until someone built
a dam upstream and caused the river
to run dry downstream.
Modern Football’s
New Reality
A strong national centre is
therefore needed to acquire
resources using economies of scale
to negotiate sponsorships and to
provide proper levels of support for
development
Racial
Transformation
1. Racial Transformation
Objectives




To strengthen participation by all racial groups in the country
To increase female participation in the sport
More coaching courses for school teachers and SGBs
Introduce Grassroots football in communities
Challenges





Accessibility to school sports thru PE in the
curriculum
Lack of infrastructure
Inadequately trained human resources
Parental involvement
Cultural challenges in rural areas
2. Economic Transformation
Objectives






To diversify income sources for football
Ownership and/or control of facilities
Football Pools
Capacity-building in our Regions
Broadcasting revenue base needs to increase drastically
Exploit hidden value embedded in the sport (merchandising, business
potential)
Challenges



Mindset of Corporate South Africa is racially
based
Lack of an entrepreneurial culture in football
Negative public image of the sport
3. Sport Performance
Objectives







Establish grassroots football programmes to increase the fun element into
the sport
Establishment of provincial, regional, local high performance centers
Improvement of the National School of Excellence at Elandsfontein
Become the center of Elite Football Development for the African continent
Become No. 1 in Africa at all age group levels
Qualify for FIFA and continental competitions at all levels
Increase the coaching culture at all levels
Challenges




Transfer of land for School of Excellence to be
accelerated
Acquisition of Esselen Park as the National
Center of Excellence for football
Increased engagement with government at Provincial and local levels
Lack of junior leagues / financial support
4. Governance
Objectives









Application of King III Code
Capacity-Building of Committees
Providing Strategic direction to the Administration
Establishment of the Code of Ethics / Conduct
Zero tolerance for corrupt behaviour
Developing a culture of service / accountability
Declaration of Interest for all members
Democratic centralism is a key tenet for strong governance
Commitment to the concept of development at all levels (elite football,
professional football, amateur football, commercial development)
Challenges


Implementation and monitoring mechanisms
Corrupt behaviour among certain sectors in the sport
5. Administration
Objectives




Capacity building for staff
Technological improvements
Performance management
Professionalisation of administration at all levels (national, provincial,
local)
Challenges




Suitably qualified candidates for certain roles
Culture of non-delivery in certain sectors
Lack of infrastructure
Lack of financial resources to administer the sport at various levels
6. National Priorities
Objectives







Improve relations with government at all levels
Education on national role in international sport performance
Build a Winning Nation
Participation in Olympic Football Tournament
Participate in All Africa Games
Acquisition of sport infrastructure
High performance training
Challenges



Lack of communication
Lack of clarity on government programmes
Lack of financial and infrastructure resources
SUCCESSES
•National Teams Performance Improvement
•Bafana Bafana
•Raising the World Ranking of Bafana Bafana
•Appointment of a South African Head Coach for Bafana Bafana
•Under-17 Womens National team qualifies for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup
•Hosting of the 2010 African Womens Championship
•Qualified for the CHAN
•Improve attendance at national team matches
•Grassroots football programmes all over the country
•2010 FIFA World Cup
•Award from CAF for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup
•The World Cup Legacy Programme (artificial turf programme, training and
development)
•The SAFA Annual General Meeting
•SAFA Awards
•Continuous strategic planning
•Continual focus on the transformation agenda through proper resourcing
•The Robben Island Declaration and its Implementation
•Unifying the Sport (Improvement of Relations with The League)
•Adoption of Policies to improve performance
•Development of fraternal relations with sister federations
THANK YOU