Celani Sikhakhane
Politicians have joined veteran soccer administrator Ria Ledwaba’s campaign to become the next president of the South African Football Association (Safa).
If she is elected, Ledwaba will be the first woman to head the association.
She is currently one of the Safa vice presidents and founder of former club Ria Stars.
ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini said that all political women’s formations have pledged their support for Ledwaba.
“It’s time Safa is led by a woman. I have spoken to the Inkatha Freedom Party and the women from the United Democratic Movement, and we discussed Ledwaba’s issue and we have a belief that she should be the president of our football association,” said Dlamini.
She said that they won’t interfere as a political movement since the guidelines don’t allow political interventions.
During the sitting of the Safa’s national executive committee, the National Woman’s Network staged a protest to display their anger over the alleged ill-treatment of Ledwaba.
Dlamini, who was leading the protest, said that Ledwaba has been refused permission to campaign for the position “by certain men who think they own our football. We will stand by her no matter what”.
Ledwaba has been endorsed by many soccer legends, including Mark Fish and Lucas Radebe.
Last month she was told that she is not allowed to campaign because the process should start at a certain period, which angered many in the football fraternity.
Ledwaba has been in the soccer industry for more than three decades.
She was the most popular woman in that field during apartheid.
She later went into construction but continued her involvement in soccer, which she inherited from her father.
She is challenging the incumbent Danny Jordaan, who has been at the helm since 2013.
