Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

The South African Football Association has appointed Limpopo administrator Nakedi Lekota, pictured, as the new head of delegation of Bafana Bafana.

This was announced by Safa president Molefi Oliphant after their national executive committee meeting at Nasrec on Friday.

Lekota, a Limpopo businessman, took over from Mandla "Shoes" Mazibuko, who has since been appointed the 2010 World Cup venue manager at Loftus Stadium.

Prior to that meeting, Lekota was a Safa national executive committee member who also chaired the youth affairs and development sub committee.

"His first assignment is to lead Bafana Bafana in an international friendly against Australia in London on August 19," said Oliphant.

Lekota said: "This is a great honour and I want to thank Dr Oliphant and the entire executive committee for the confidence they have shown in my leadership skills.

"It is a big challenge because we all know that the focus is on South African soccer, especially with the 2010 World Cup coming to our shores. I will be meeting with the Bafana Bafana team management to familiarise myself with the developments within the team."

It was also confirmed at the meeting that Kirsten Nematendani has been appointed venue manager at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Port Elizabeth Stadium looks set to host the World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria on September 6.

Sipho Nkumane, Bafana Bafana's manager, was in the Friendly City last week for a meeting with the municipality.

"We are taking it to Port Elizabeth, but the only outstanding issue with the venue is the condition of the pitch.

"We are also waiting for guarantees from the Nelson Mandela municipality that there won't be any game there between now and on the day of the Nigeria game.