Cape Town - Former SA Football Association (SAFA) vice president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana will contest the upcoming elections for the top football job in the land.
The elections will take place on March 24, where current president Danny Jordaan will stand for reelection.
According to SuperSport.com website, Nonkonyana, fired as the association vice president in October 2014 after publicly criticizing then national coach Gordon Igesund, expressed his interest "after requests to stand from a number of Association members, at the Elective Congress".
A statement from his publicists on Thursday indicated that the Chief and traditional leader of the AmaBhala clan, would be nominated when the members submit nominations for SAFA leadership in January and February.
Nonkonyana previously served as SAFA vice president for two terms, chairman of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) Local Organising Committees as well as being an African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament for 15 years.
"I am pleased to have been approached by some members to contest the position of President in order to contribute to ascendency of SA Football by instilling professionalism, turning around SA Football to be among the best in Africa and the world; and in this regard to develop abundant football talent in our beloved country," said Nonkonyana.
"We are building a SAFA for the future. We ask for South Africans not to give up on their football mother body and to have hope in the future of our key brand and product - Bafana Bafana. Our motto to all South Africans for this campaign and for the future of SA football is to #Believe."
The 61-year-old politician wasted no time in outlining his campaign plan.
He stated that key elements that would form part of the future of South African football and SAFA will include:
- World class football administration
- Financil administration by being accountable to members, sponsors and to be accountable to fans and supporters by publicising audited financial statements annually.
- Key female, former players and corporate business involvement in Executive and Managerial decision making.
- A SAFA commercial wing operating separate from the amateur body to fund development programmes of the association.
- Ending of corruption, white collar crime and divisive politics which have hampered delivery and progress at the national office as well as with amateur/grassroots football structures
- Improved stakeholder relations
"There is a need to get rid of dormant structures and individuals, end maladministration and corruption and for once, give a better service for South Africans 25 years since our re-introduction to international football.
"In due course, we will announce our complete plans that will have involvement of our painfully undervalued former players, females and corporate business representation... bear in mind that a former footballer will and should lead these structures when all the dirt is cleaned out by 2022," Nonkonyana concluded.