South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant is facing the sternest test to his leadership yet. A group of national executive committee (NEC) members that ascended into the soccer body’s hierarchy in October last year openly challenged national office appointments and decision-making processes this week.
The usually pliant NEC, the Mail & Guardian has learnt, was unable to work through its 11-item agenda because of the unprecedented ”questioning” of the president and his tendency to run the association as if ”it is his own business”. At least six agenda points had to be carried over to a meeting scheduled for next week.
It is understood that at least seven NEC members, described by sources in the association as ”financially independent”, bandied together to challenge the ”old guard” on the 23-member committee. ”Members did not go to the meeting to listen to what the leaders say, but really engaged and interrogated the issues,” insiders told the M&G.
A sticking issue at the marathon meeting held at the Johannesburg International Airport centred on the selection of representatives on international assignments.
Oliphant’s practise of exercising his presidential prerogative to appoint heads of delegations, instead of leaving it up to the NEC to decide, came under attack. In the heated exchanges, Oliphant was accused of ”consistently giving opportunities to travel and gain international experience” to those ”close” to him.
Some also took issue with officials holding more than one position in the association. Here Mubarak Mohamed, who was the head of the delegation for the disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Egypt, drew particular flak. It was pointed out that he was head of the finance committee and ”always involved with the national teams”.
The new NEC members argued that other talent was being sidelined and pressed for a ”fair spread of opportunities”.
The inclusion of Obakeng Molatedi, an NEC member in Oliphant’s inner circle, in the party to Egypt was cited as further evidence of cronyism. The retort was that Molatedi had led the South African Football Association (Safa) delegation to the Tunisia tournament two years ago and was drafted to fill the void left after team manager, Screamer Tshabalala, was axed.
One of the three Safa vice-presidents, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, confirmed that aggrieved NEC members had raised the selection criteria with him but that he had ”not had an opportunity” to discuss the matter with Oliphant.
”We have no policy, but it has been raised as a concern. When [the new NEC] came in, that was the case and we have just found out now that there is no policy … we have to develop a policy on the issue,” said Nonkonyana.
Safa CEO Raymond Hack, however, insists that a policy guideline document is in place and that all NEC members are aware of it. He also defended Mubarak, describing him as competent. ”I don’t want to sound as though as I am saying other people are not, from the administrative point of view. With Mubarak there are no grey areas. He has the knowledge and can do the job properly.”
The allure of lucrative perks on foreign assignments and allowances of $190 a day for officials is seen as patronage dispensed by the top brass. It is alleged that officials pocketed more than R20 000 each for the Egypt deployment.
The power play evidenced by this week’s mini-revolt at the NEC, M&G sources say, was to signal that the ”days of rubber-stamping decisions, [and] sitting and listening to Oliphant in meeting without interrogating what he says may not yet be over but certainly [they] are coming to an end”.