Connie Selebogo and Jubie Matlou
WHO IS … JOE NDHLELA?
Joe Ndhlela does not easily pick up a fight. However, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) CEO has lately found himself on a collision course with certain members of the powerful board of governors of the league.
This showdown has a negative impact on South Africa’s bid for the 2006 World Cup bid.
Ndhlela is the league’s second CEO, after Englishman Trevor Phillips, who oversaw the transformation of the previous professional league to premier soccer league status.
Ndhlela took up the league’s reins amid a cloud of controversy following his unceremonious departure from Transnet last year over allegations of wrongdoing and managerial irregularities.
An internal disciplinary inquiry found he had committed an act of “gross misconduct”, two acts of misconduct, a breach of fiduciary duty and an act of disloyalty to Transnet while he was the parastatal’s executive director.
Before Ndhlela could settle in his new job, he wrangled with several league officials over what he termed their abuse of the facilities, which included cellphones, offices and vehicles.
To many, Ndhlela came across as someone determined to bring about a clean administration in the league. Some powerful individuals within the league, who resented his management style, called for his removal.
Ndhlela went on to square up with the powerful “A-team of South African soccer” when he announced the intended resumption of the multimillion-rand BP Top Eight competition at the end of this season.
This didn’t go down well with Orlando Pirates boss Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung of Kaizer Chiefs. The two charged that the reintroduction of the BP Top Eight competition would exacerbate South Africa’s congested fixture list.
“Every game is processed by my office, but somebody out there thinks if he does not want me at the game, things will go his way,” Ndhlela said.
The premier league is reported to be run de facto by the powerful “A-team”, and any outsider who is appointed to run the league’s affairs is set for a difficult time.
Ndhlela’s fight with Khoza and Motaung was paralleled by an open verbal war between Jomo Sono of Cosmos and Motaung, and to a lesser extent Khoza. The ugly exchange resulted in charges of libel and defamation and triggered a wagging finger from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation.
The next time the South African soccer fraternity heard about Ndhlela, he was questioned by the board of governors for taking the the league’s account to another bank. Ndhlela maintained it was within his powers to do so.
Ndhlela is known for his tenacity to stand up to the league’s “bully boys”, and his disgust for the involvement of club bosses in the affairs of the league is well known.
Last Saturday the mle at the Rothmans Cup semi-final could have a negative effect on the 2006 World Cup bid. During the Sundowns/Pirates game, club officials invaded the pitch and stopped play after the referee decided to award a retake of a penalty kick to Pirates. The initial kick was saved by the Sundowns goalkeeper.
Sundowns coach Paul Dolezar, disgusted at the referee’s decision, went as far as grabbing the Rothmans Cup trophy, threatening to hand it over to Pirates.
Ndhlela’s home was attacked by gunmen that evening. No one was injured in the attack, which Ndhlela dismissed as an act of intimidation. Police investigations continue.
Ndhlela claims he received threatening calls earlier that day, and was intimidated and refused entry by people suspected to be Pirates supporters, but he eventually gained entry into the FNB Stadium.
Andrew Dipela, the league’s representative, condemned the disruptions at the Sundowns/ Pirates game, adding that “it does the [World Cup] bid no good”. Dipela not want to comment about the attack on Ndhlela’s house.
Ndhlela worked for Transnet for two years before joining the PSL, where one of his responsibilities include the School of Excellence, a soccer academy run by Transnet.
He trained and practised as a business administrator and human resource practitioner. Before joining Transnet, he worked for Mega Hitec, Mega Plastic and Logos Pharmaceuticals in various managerial positions.
NDHLELA IS DESCRIBED BY FORMER COLLEAGUES AS “ALWAYS A PROFESSIONAL PERSON, WHO LIKES FOLLOWING HIS OWN INSTINCTS … PURPOSEFUL, WANTING TO GET THINGS DONE, AND NEVER ALLOWING HIS ATTENTION AND FOCUS TO BE DIVERTED”.