SAFA elections ‘sidelining’ current players, says FUSA

The upcoming South African Football Association (SAFA) elections are failing to give current players a voice, according to the Football Union of South Africa (FUSA), which says player representatives should be included in the organisation’s decision-making structures.

The SAFA leadership elections will be held on 12 September 2026 at the organisation’s elective congress. Delegates will vote for the next SAFA president and the members of the National Executive Committee.

Long-serving president Danny Jordaan is standing for re-election and will face AmaZulu FC president Sandile Zungu.

FUSA secretary general Taelo Motloung has criticised the process, saying players’ unions are being left on the outside while decisions affecting footballers are made within the congress.

“We’re watching the whole thing from afar; unions are not included, and that’s what I want to fight against so that unions can be there,” Motloung told KickOff.

He questioned who would speak for active players during the election process and said unions should have a formal role whenever decisions concerning footballers are discussed.

“When decisions about the players are made, unions have to be there to represent the players. At the moment, who is representing the players in that congress?

“At present, decisions are taken, but who is representing the players when those decisions are made?

“When decisions about players are made, as unions, we should be there. Not only FUSA, but all the players’ unions should be invited. Currently, nobody is representing the current players.

Motloung’s comments focus on the distinction between organisations representing former footballers and those speaking on behalf of players who are still active.

He said the South African Masters and Legends Football Association (SAMLFA), led by Jacob ‘Bhudda’ Mathathe, had been included in the congress. However, he argued that the presence of an organisation for former players did not resolve the issue of representation for current footballers.

“Instead, it is the organization of former players, the South African Masters and Legends Football Association [SAMLFA], led by Jacob ‘Bhudda’ Mathathe that has been included.

“Okay, fine, but who is representing the current players?”

The dispute comes as SAFA prepares to decide its leadership for the next term. The contest between Jordaan and Zungu will form the central part of the elective congress, while the vote will also determine the composition of the National Executive Committee.

FUSA says the process should include all players’ unions, rather than leaving current footballers without a representative when decisions affecting them are made.

A separate related report has focused on Danny Jordaan revealing Pitso’s Bafana mandate, while another report has carried claims that ‘There are two officials blocking VAR at SAFA House’.