Khumalo joins Safa NEC as Mathathe welcomes appointment but warns of political agenda

Jacob ‘Buddha’ Mathathe has welcomed Doctor Khumalo’s appointment to the Safa National Executive Committee (NEC), but says the move must not be used to divide former footballers or advance political interests within South African football.

Khumalo has been named vice-chairperson of the technical committee, which is chaired by Jack Maluleke. The committee will oversee the appointment of national team coaches, assess their performances and provide support where required.

His arrival comes at the beginning of SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan’s fourth term in office, following changes to the NEC and vice-presidency after the election. Mathathe and Bennet Bailey were among those who lost their positions after supporting Jordaan’s challenger, Sandile Zulu.

Khumalo is widely viewed as Mathathe’s replacement within the association. He is now the most prominent former player in the NEC structures and on the technical committee.

Mathathe, who is president of the South African Masters and Legends Football Association (Samlfa), said Khumalo deserved the opportunity but argued that more former players should have been included instead of replacing existing representatives.

“Doctor is one of us. He is the vice-president of the South African Masters and Legends Football Association (Samlfa),” said Mathathe. “It shouldn’t have taken (Jordaan) removing me to put one of our vice-president as his vice-chairperson. Doctor literally replaces me in the same position.

“Instead, he should have increased the number of former football players, not just in the technical committee, but across the board. It shows how he’s playing his political game.

“I am extremely happy for Doctor. He’s one of us and the vice-president of Samlfa. I know it’s not about him, but about SA football. Our position is clear: we want the best for SA football.”

Mathathe also expressed concern that Jordaan could use Khumalo’s appointment to create divisions within Samlfa. The association had called for Jordaan to be removed before the election, a stance which Mathathe said had contributed to the strained relationship.

“He’s using the divide-and-rule strategy from apartheid to divide us and create instability,” Mathathe said. “I am mindful of the game they are playing.”

Samlfa lost its place on the NEC after being judged non-compliant as a Safa associate member for the first time in 31 years. Mathathe accepted that the organisation had been removed but said it would continue to campaign for changes within the association.

He also called on former footballers to unite, while stressing that the criticism was directed at the way the association was being managed rather than at Khumalo personally.