RESPECTED soccer bosses Molefi Oliphant and Kaizer Motaung are among many leaders invited to address the African Football Executive Summit in Johannesburg from April 18 to 20.

The theme for this year's event is: "Driving New Investment, Good Business Practices and Technical Issues to Enhance Sustainable Development in African Football".

The aim of the event is to come up with ways to attract investment in and improve the business side of football in Africa.

It is also aimed at enhancing professionalism in our local leagues and helping African soccer leagues and clubs secure sponsorship.

Oliphant, who is an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football, said he was honoured to be part of the gathering.

"It's a great honour to participate at a gathering where the discussion will focus on bettering football in Africa," said Oliphant, who is also the Safa life president.

Oliphant was part of the Three Musketeers, according to Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who played a massive role in South Africa winning the bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

The other two administrators are Premier Soccer League chairman Irvin Khoza and Safa deputy president Danny Jordaan.

During the gathering in Illovo, Oliphant will talk on "Leadership in African Football: a key ingredient for attaining success on and off the football pitch".

Former PSL referee and general manager Dr Errol "The Hanging Judge" Sweeney is coming back from England where he is based. Sweeney will deal with "Refereeing in African football and how standards can be improved to international levels - and better".

Other top speakers include former Fifa international relations director Jerome Champagne, Council of East Central African Football Associations general secretary Nicholas Musonye, Zambia's George Kasengele and Jordaan. Chief executive officers of the PSL, Stan Matthews, and Safa, Robin Petersen, will also speak at the annual event.