It feels like it was just yesterday when Danny Jordaan was elected Safa president, beating Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko to the hot seat in 2013.
There was mud-slinging, plot twists and some club officials even put their careers on the line to vouch for either one of the two candidates.
Believe it or not, some of the words uttered in the heated exchanges in the build-up to the elections at the time simply could not make it to the printers.
The circus is back in town, but it is mild in comparison to elections from previous polls.
Jordaan appears to be the favourite yet again, but his challengers have already accused him of being power-hungry and manipulating the Safa constitution to guarantee he stays in power for another four years.
What makes the build-up to the March 24 elections seem like a picnic compared to the last time Safa voted for a new leader, is all this confusion about eligibility.
Who can run against Jordaan and who can’t? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the elections have ended long before they’ve even begun.
Here’s the thing: the rules say you have to be currently serving in the Safa structures to put your name forward, and none of Lucas Radebe and Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana meet that criteria. So that’s it then, Jordaan wins.
Instead of canvassing for votes and going to the various Safa regions in an attempt to persuade them to “vote for change”, Radebe has made no public appearance and has instead asked a group of former national executive members to represent his interests.
On Monday, a group calling themselves the National Football Consultative Forum (NFCF) held a press conference which left scribes dazed and confused as they called for a “regime change”, but claimed to have no political aspirations.
Danny Jordaan is set to be re-elected unopposed as Safa president. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
They dragged Jordaan’s name through the mud, but yet bizarrely included his name in a long list of “leaders” they wish to engage to turn around the status quo.
The previous elections were fierce, with every bit of information extremely sensitive.
Mazibuko, especially, played his cards close to his chest, but felt he had enough backing to beat Jordaan to the presidency.
So far, all the challengers are doing are giving talks shops.
Nonkonyana, for instance, has spent more time in court attempting to be reinstated as Safa president following his expulsion four years ago than campaigning.
He’s never won a court case on all three occasions that he has gone the legal route with the association in all these years.
What makes him think he has a chance now is a puzzle that doesn’t seem to have a happy ending. What is even more shocking is the fact that the Chief is an advocate. My goodness!
At least he is doing the dirty job himself, unlike Radebe, which gives the impression that he could very well be a puppet, given the people who have put his name forward as a preferred candidate, should they be able to find a way around the issue of eligibility.
But what can spark this election campaign into life is for Nonkonyana to tell us exactly how Jordaan has mismanaged Safa, cooked the books to make it look like the association is profitable, and is a power-hungry administrator who is using the mother body for his own political gain and to move up the football ladder.
This is what they mean when they say talk is cheap. Give us some proof and end the circus, or else forever hold your peace.
@superjourno