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Jordaan favourite for Safa presidency

Comeback trail: Danny Jordaan is expected to announce his intention to run for Safa's top job PHOTO: GALLO IMAGES
Comeback trail: Danny Jordaan is expected to announce his intention to run for Safa's top job PHOTO: GALLO IMAGES

DANNY Jordaan will announce his intention to run for South African Football Association [Safa] presidency tomorrow after 32 of the mother body's 52 regions nominated him as their candidate yesterday.

The deadline for the submission of nominations was at 12am this morning, and Jordaan will end months of speculation tomorrow when he officially challenges for the most powerful seat in local football.

The 32 regions also proposed Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, Elvis Shisana and Lucas Nhlapo to serve as Jordaan's vice presidents in Safa nomination forms seen by Sowetan yesterday.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns managing director Anastasia Tsichlas, Ria Ledwaba, Nomsa Mahlangu, Norman Arendse, Truman Prince and Xolile Komphela look set to be among those who serve on the Safa national executive committee after their names appeared as nominees on many of the nomination lists.

The Safa image has taken a battering over the past few weeks, and the negative publicity has been damaging to the country's most popular sport.

Safa NEC member Mzwandile Maforvane said this was the main reason that the majority of the regions have turned to Jordaan as they believe the former chief executive of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee can help restore the mother body's battered image.

''I will be honest with you, our image is not good at the moment," Maforvane said yesterday.

''Our image has deteriorated since we hosted the 2010 World Cup, and this is not good for the sport. We need Danny to help repair the damage we have suffered over the past few months because we have really taken a beating.

''We also need him to help secure sponsorships because they have also been affected by all this negativity."

Nonkonyana's name on the nomination lists will raise a few eyebrows as he was believed to be part of a rival group that hopes to convince Premier Soccer League and Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza to run.

Safa president Kirsten Nematandani announced his intention to run for a second term a few weeks ago, while Khoza has not confirmed his bid. But the Pirates chairman is believed to be close to deciding whether or not to accept the nomination from Mazibuko's delegation.

Nematandani faces a tricky conundrum as no region had nominated him to run for a second term by late yesterday.

Insiders said if it turns out that no region has nominated him to run for a second term by this morning, which is 30 days before the Safa elective congress on September 28 - he runs the risk of having to withdraw from the presidential race.

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