South African Football Association (Safa) Johannesburg president Phil Mogodi has responded to the heightening ambitions of Lucas Radebe to succeed Danny Jordaan as the chief of the embattled association.
Last week, this publication revealed that the former Leeds United and Bafana Bafana captain wants to challenge for the Safa presidency in future – a declaration that has since gained momentum.
Radebe, 54, has since expressed his concerns for being told to go through the structures before taking over the hot seat – saying going to the structures defeats the purpose of what he wants to achieve with the local football mother body.
However, Mogodi, like many other Safa officials, stated the Bafana legend needs to be a member of one of the 52 regions before considering the presidential role. “Lucas is more than welcome [to be part of the association] but remember, in football the people who do the voting and responsible for selecting our leaders are those from the 52 regions that we have,” he exclusively told Sunday World.
“It’s important that you are part and parcel of the structures before anything else because that will help to guide you. For instance, you will never go to SA Rugby and demand to hold a certain position when you are not part of its structures.
“Why is it that in football there are so many politics that are being brought up? And I am sitting and watching. People must respect football and follow the right channels – be part of the structures so they can understand the constitution.
“Take [Samuel] Eto’o for example, he is president now because he humbled himself and went to the structures. He was then seconded by former
players because he served the structures. So, I advise him [Radebe] to join one of the regions or he can come and join us in Johannesburg as a member.”
Mogodi said he encourages more Bafana legends such as Doctor Khumalo, SibusisoZuma and Tebogo Moloi to plough back to the game by joining respective regions, which will ultimately make it easier for change to be implemented at Safa.
