Dylan Bettencourt
Ria Ledwaba has vowed to continue the fight against South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan, after she claimed she “did not lose” the election held on Saturday.
Jordaan was re-elected Safa president for a third term at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Although Jordaan has claimed this will be his final term as the head of South African football, Ledwaba said this is not the last we will hear from her.
“I knew the odds were against me, but I think I fought a good fight. I am not leaving and you are still going to hear a lot from me until Jordaan is out of football,” Ledwaba said after the election.
Jordaan received the majority of the votes, collecting 186 votes to Ledwaba’s 27.
“I still believe that Safa needs to change, I also believe that I did not lose. In fact, football has lost a servant. I have been a servant and I was not in Safa for any positions, I was in Safa to serve,” Ledwaba added.
“Football has lost somebody that would have brought change that we need in South Africa.
We need a lot of change in our football.”
Ledwaba is no longer the vice-president of Safa, the governing body’s CEO Tebogo Motlhanthe confirmed, according to TimesLive.
“Ria is no longer a member of the national executive committee — she only contested the presidency, she did not qualify to run for the national executive committee (NEC),” Motlanthe explained.
Ledwaba added that she felt Jordaan was not beneficial for South African football.
“I don’t think Jordaan is good for our football. I believe that he has done his part in all the years he has been in football and I think you cannot have a situation where it is a one-man show.
“I agree with the thinking that football needs young and fresh people, legends should be part of football,” Ledwaba said.
Image source: @Mail&Guardian
