SANASU ready to celebrate with either Danny Jordaan or Sandile Zungu after SAFA vote

South African National Supporters [SANASU] president Saddam Maake says football supporters will celebrate with whoever emerges victorious in Saturday’s race for the South African Football Association (SAFA) presidency.

Danny Jordaan and Sandile Zungu are competing to become the next SAFA president, with the leadership contest set to be decided on Saturday. Maake says SANASU will not take sides once the result is announced and will instead support the successful candidate.

“You shouldn’t be surprised on Saturday if you see us as SANASU celebrating with whoever would have won between Danny Jordaan and Sandile Zungu,” Maake tells KickOff.

The SANASU president said the organisation’s role would be to welcome the new leader, regardless of which candidate receives the most support. He stressed that the supporters’ body would celebrate the result rather than focus on the losing side.

“We will dance with whoever wins the presidency, siyo jaiva nabo strong. Whoever is gonna be crowned, he is going to be our president, and we are going to celebrate with him.

“We are not going to vote; we are going there to wait for the announcement of the winner. At the end of the day, there will be winners and a bunch of losers.

“Whoever wins, we will give him vibe and celebration. Expect to hear loud vuvuzelas and brass bands following the announcement of the winner.

“Good luck to the winner,” he added.

Maake’s comments indicate that SANASU intends to remain neutral during the contest between Jordaan and Zungu, while preparing to give the incoming SAFA president a public show of support.

Rather than committing the organisation to either campaign, he said SANASU would attend the election and wait for the official announcement before beginning its celebrations. The group is expected to mark the outcome with music, vuvuzelas and brass bands, whichever candidate is crowned.

The result will determine whether Danny Jordaan or Sandile Zungu takes charge of SAFA. Maake said that, once the announcement has been made, the winner will be regarded as the organisation’s president and will receive SANASU’s backing.

The supporters’ body will therefore treat the election as a contest with one successful candidate and several defeated contenders, but Maake’s message was that the result would also be an occasion for football supporters to celebrate the beginning of a new presidency.

For SANASU, the identity of the winner is less important than showing support for the person chosen to lead SAFA.