S. African association names new president - 2010

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S. African association names new president

09-27-2009

S. African association names new president

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The South African Football Association (Safa) Saturday named Kirsten Nematandani president after two senior 2010 World Cup officials withdrew at the last minute.

The announcement ended weeks of reports about a bitter stand-off between local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan and chairman Irvin Khoza for control of the biggest sport in the country.

The rivalry concerned Fifa, who unsuccessfully pleaded for the elections to be postponed until after the World Cup next June and July.

The body also told both officials that if one was elected president they would have to step down from the 2010 organising committee.

"Nematandani was elected unopposed following the withdrawal of other presidential candidates Khoza and Jordaan from the race," said Safa spokesman Morio Sanyane in a statement.

Khoza and Jordaan are the heavyweights of South African football and were instrumental in bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.

At the start of the elections near Johannesburg, both officials were determined to go head to head, but withdrew after claims from both camps that they were ineligible.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL), of which Khoza is chairman, objected to Jordaan's nomination as he is a paid Safa official.

Jordaan's supporters said constitutionally, as PSL chairman, Khoza could

not stand, reported national news agency Sapa.

Nematandani succeeds Molefi Oliphant, who was in charge of the association

for 12 years.

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