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Johannesburg - The chairperson of the 2010 Local Organising Committee, Irvin Khoza, on Tuesday denied Sunday newspaper allegations he was plotting a coup to destabilise the South African Football Association and stressed he wouldn't do anything to hurt South Africa staging the World Cup in June.
Speaking at a special media briefing at the Premier Soccer League’s headquarters in Johannesburg, Khoza stated: “The co-ordinated Sunday newspapers assertion quoting nonexistent meetings to plot a nonexistent coup (by me) is not only false but malicious peddled by those who clearly do not care about putting the World Cup first.”
Khoza who is also the chairman of the PSL, again stressed he would not allow in-fighting to compromise the successful staging of the first World Cup finals on Africa soil.
Khoza took the newspapers (Sunday Times and City Press) to task over their reports last Sunday. He said he was “not upset, but disappointed” in the allegation which he said were untrue.
The reports claim Khoza had meetings with government, ANC, the ANC’s Women’s League and five members of the SAFA executive in a big to oust the current leadership of SAFA.
Said Khoza: “I held no meetings with anyone. Nowhere in the reports in the media on Sunday did they quote me.
"But that is not a big deal. Why did the papers not get hold of people in the ANC, government or the Women’s League for their comment?”
Khoza said he had agreed with President Jacob Zuma last year after the controversial SAFA elections where Khoza lost out in a bid to become president of SAFA, he would not contest the elections until after the World Cup.
Said Khoza: “I reserve the right to challenge the elections if I want to.
"But I will honour my commitment to President Zuma and the country and I will stick by that.
"I would never do anything to harm the World Cup in any way. I have always understood and appreciated that the World Cup is more than me and not about me.
"I will therefore stop at nothing to ensure that those who want to take away the World Cup, have no latitude to do so – be they foreign agents or compromised local media bought by those selfish enough to put their narrow interest ahead of those of the nation and the World Cup."
Khoza said he had attended a SAFA executive meeting in Johannesburg last Friday which was cordial. Then on Sunday I read I am plotting a coup. What nonsense."
