Pertunia Ratsatsi

Pertunia Ratsatsi

Soccer boss Irvin Khoza was inaugurated as an "honorary colonel" in the South African National Defence Force yesterday.

Khoza is chairperson of Fifa's Local Organising Committee, the PSL, Orlando Pirates and vice president of the South African Football Association (Safa).

Among those at the event were Kaizer Chiefs' boss Kaizer Motaung - and top businessman and ANC national executive committee member Tokyo Sexwale.

Khoza, who was in full military regalia, said: "I feel profoundly privileged to have been offered the rank of honorary colonel of the logistics division of the South African Defence Force and I humbly accept.

"I stand as a proud but humble protégé of an army of men and women whose shoes are too large for me to fill.

"Never did I dream that one day I would stand proud, in full uniform, of the army of the people.

"I'm deeply honoured to stand here today and be a part of what future generations will look back at as a generation that put this great nation back on a path of progress," said Khoza.

"There are now 450 days remaining until the opening match of the Fifa World Cup, to be played on June 11.

"Our preparations for the tournament are well advanced. They are unfolding so well that they could be said to have been planned with military precision."

SANDF director of physical training General Aubrey Sedibe said it was a blessing to "open opportunities for defence force football" by revitalising their relationship with Safa.