South African Football Association (Safa) CEO Raymond Hack on Tuesday dismissed a ”hate campaign” to discredit him as ”mischievous and deceitful” — and said there is no substance to reports that there has been a petition from staff members calling for his dismissal.
”It’s pure malicious fiction,” said the Safa CEO. ”It’s true I received a letter from three staff members who wished to discuss certain administrative matters with me with which they were not happy — but equating that with a petition calling for my resignation is the height of distortion.”
Hack said he has discussed the campaign with Safa president Molefi Oliphant and vice-president Irvin Khoza, and both have given him ”full support” and advised him to ignore what is clearly a personal vendetta.
Hack said he has also held discussions with the three Safa officials who are allegedly in the forefront of the campaign calling for his dismissal — ”and all three denied they had ever made any suggestion of the kind”.
”Petitions are clearly a phobia with my detractors,” added Hack. ”When reports first surfaced that I was going to be reappointed Safa CEO, the same people came out with reports that a petition was circulating that I should not be given the job.
”Predictably the petition never surfaced then,” said the Safa CEO, ”and I challenge anyone to produce a bona fide petition from any staff members now.”
Apparently linked to the anti-Hack reports is the issue of an appointment for the vacant position of Safa chief operating officer — ostensibly the second-most-senior paid post in the organisation.
”But everything is being done according to the book,” said Hack. ”We intend to initially examine all applicants for the position within the Safa organisation — and only if we do not find anyone with the required credentials will we look elsewhere.” — Sapa