Chippa United chairman and owner Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi has announced his withdrawal from contesting the SA Football Association (Safa) presidency position.
The deadline for the submission of nominees lapsed on Tuesday, April 19. Mpengesi withdrew his candidacy for the position held by the long-serving incumbent Danny Jordaan, whom he was challenging for South African football’s highest position.
Mpengesi’s nomination was supported in the main by the Western Cape and Eastern Cape regions for the June 25 presidential elections. Jordaan, who has been the Safa president for the past 13 years, will be challenged mainly by the regional president of Safa Tshwane Solly Mohlabeng.
Mohlabeng has been scathing in his criticism of Jordaan’s administration. Another candidate, who has however not confirmed her availability to Sunday World, is Safa vice-president Ria Ledwaba.
In a statement announcing his withdrawal from the race, released via the Premier Soccer League (PSL) media on Thursday, Mpengesi cited a resolution taken at the Safa congress in April that the PSL chairman, in this case Irvin “Iron Duke” Khoza, and club bosses are not eligible to run for the national association’s presidency.
“When I decided to contest for the Safa elections in the upcoming congress, it was never about getting the position at all costs, it was about working with all football leaders for the betterment of football development,” according to the statement.
“I was pushed by my passion to be involved at grassroots level. It was about mobilising resources to equip football administrators for the betterment of the game,” said Mpengesi.
“After careful consideration, I decided to no longer contest the elections. I have taken a decision to continue to work with the Safa regions as I did in the past. I will seek to work with the Safa leadership that emerges on many programmes that are aimed at improving the lives of youngsters at ground level.
“The Safa NEC [national executive committee] also resolved that PSL clubs’ chairs cannot stand for presidency. To all the regions that encouraged me to stand, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Be assured that I will continue to assist in football development in this country, working with you as football structures.”
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