SOCCER
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
As the row over the omission of Kaizer Chiefs chair Kaizer Motaung from the three Premier Soccer League (PSL) representatives to the South African Football Association (Safa) executive simmers, further tensions have come to light in the national body.
There have been allegations that president Molefi Oliphant and his deputy, Irvin Khoza, are buying votes
ahead of Saturday’s elections to the executive, and rumours of an orchestrated campaign to oust Khoza.
Khoza’s position in the organisation has been under a cloud in recent months as the Orlando Pirates chairman faces charges of tax evasion and illegal possession of a firearm.
The candidates for the deputy presi-dent’s seat are Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, Reuban Mahlalela, Professor Lesole Gadinabokao and Khoza. Oliphant can relax for another four years as he has been re-elected unopposed as president.
Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo Sono, meanwhile, ruffled feathers when he suggested this week that one of the two women nominated by the PSL to Safa should step aside in favour of Motaung. Nastasia Tsichlas, Manto Madlala and Sono himself were voted to Safa at a PSL meeting. Madlala and Tsichlas were not happy with Sono’s remarks, suggesting that if he felt so strongly about Motaung’s suitability he should himself step down.
Motaung sidestepped most of the mudslinging, saying: “I was not at the meeting and the issue of elections was not on the agenda.”
l Fifa has slapped Safa with a R44 000 fine and banned the Vosloorus stadium as a venue for international matches for a year. The African women’s Nations Cup final between South Africa and Nigeria at the stadium last November was abandoned when supporters started throwing objects on to the field during the game, won 2-0 by Nigeria.