Countdown To World Cup 2010 (Article 3)

South African based Manchester City fan, Mariner is keeping us up to date with all the goings on prior to next years World Cup finals.

Further to my report on the non-contested election to the Presidency of the SAFA, (South African Football Association), Kirsten Nematandani (no, not a woman) is now being challenged by the Professional Soccer League.

The SAFA, for those of you who are not familiar with our governing bodies, is a pretty powerful, if not the most powerful football governing body in South African soccer circles.

Furthermore, FIFA had requested that these elections, with all their divisiveness, be postponed until after the World Cup, but this was, as predicted ignored by the South African FA.

In addition, FIFA had stated if the elections went ahead they could undermine SA's hosting of the event. The latter is fairly unlikely however especially as most of the tickets have already been sold for the group and latter stages of the competition, plus, all the new grounds are nearing completion.

Khoza and the Professional Soccer League, (PSL) are currently meeting to discuss their options, so watch this space.

Meanwhile our brand new stadium dominates the Durban skyline and it has been suggested that after the World Cup the stadium is presented to Thailand, (nominal descendants of the Siamese who revered white elephants). What a thought!

On a lighter note!

In yesterday's Natal Mercury, (well respected newspaper) a cartoon shows Jordaan with his (Grecian) allies walking away from the walls of Troy-manned by the troops of SAFA while leaving his Trojan horse named Nematandani outside.

Happy days!

To read Mariners previous World Cup reports, click here.

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