The suspension of two senior executives from the South African Football Association (Safa) a month before the Soccer World Cup will not affect Bafana Bafana’s preparations, Safa chief executive Leslie Sedibe said on Thursday.
“If I thought that the suspensions of these two individuals would compromise preparations of the team I would never have made this decision,” Sedibe told a National Press Club briefing in Pretoria.
Sedibe suspended Bafana Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane and Safa commercial director Victor Nosi earlier this week pending “a disciplinary action”.
He would not be drawn on what the alleged offences were, saying only that his decision was related to improving performance of the organisation.
“It’s going to be important that nobody is rubbished in the media. These are merely allegations. I did not take this decision lightly. I applied my mind.
“I can give you my absolute assurance that none of what I have done in the past few weeks will in any way adversely affect the senior national men’s team and its preparations for the World Cup.”
Sedibe also dismissed rumours that he was attempting to “purge” the association of its leadership.
“There is no purge. For me it’s about performance. It’s an urban legend. I have no such intentions. However, people will beheld accountable,” he said. — Sapa