Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Former 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup local organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan has welcomed his new role in the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Jordaan was appointed special adviser to CAF president Issa Hayatou on Wednesday, and believes he has a lot to offer the African soccer body.
"I think it's quite a challenging position, but I welcome it," Jordaan said on Thursday. "I always welcome new challenges."
Jordaan served as CEO of the SA Football Association (SAFA) between 1997 and 2001, before leading an unsuccessful bid to host the 2006 World Cup in South Africa.
Four years later, he was praised for his leading role in hosting the 2010 soccer spectacle, gaining international recognition for the tournament's overwhelming success.
According to a letter from CAF, Jordaan was appointed "due to the continuous contribution he continues to make in African football".
Jordaan said he was looking forward to working with Hayatou, whom he met 22 years ago while working as acting Safa president.
"I met him [Hayatou] for the first time in 1991 already. I was the acting president of SAFA and we were making our case for South Africa to return to international football. Ever since, I worked with him both at the level of CAF and FIFA."
Jordaan and Hayatou worked closely in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup.
"I also worked with him when he was the chairman of the organising committee of the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
"Fifa has its own World Cup organising committee and he was the chair of that committee. As the CEO of the local organising committee, I had to work very closely with him. I've worked with him over a number of years in many capacities."
Jordaan said he would remain SAFA vice-president.
"Fortunately, with modern communication, you don't have to get on a plane or write a letter anymore. You can sit in bed and communicate.
"I can still continue contributing to South African football. There is no issue there."
He remained reluctant to comment on whether he would consider running for the presidency of SAFA.
Current president Kirsten Nematandani is expected to face stiff competition from rivals at the elections in September.
"The people of the region must speak first," Jordaan said.
"The people must be nominated by the region, and the regions have not spoken yet, so we will see who gets nominated. We cannot nominate ourselves."
