Get Jordaan off the mic!

Get Jordaan off the mic!

Someone must take away the mic from Safa president Danny Jordaan, especially when he addresses the media at OR Tambo International after a long trip abroad. The 73-year-old was certainly longing for his bed when he said Under-20 national team coach Raymond Mdaka has been with Amajita and Safa for 20 years. Jordaan offered this as the main reason Mdaka got Amajita to win gold at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations last week. Jordaan’s claim was shot down when Safa’s former technical director Walter Steenbok revealed on national radio that Mdaka was so disrespected by Safa that he earned a paltry R25,000 a month and had coached Amajita in no more than 15 games. He apparently has a one-year contract with Safa.

Stingy Safa caused Steenbok’s exit  

Steenbok was clearly in his element as he further revealed the “real” reason he left Safa halfway through his five-year contract in March. He claimed he had made numerous appeals to Jordaan and Safa to improve his salary and the capacity of his office, while they appointed technical people without his approval or knowledge. Most startling was Steenbok’s revelation that his salary was less than the rent Safa pays for Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos whenever he’s in the country. 

‘This old thing?’ 

The Central Gauteng Lions celebrated their annual end of season awards this week, with the theme for the night being “Starlight Soirée Elegance”. The invite called for “Formal evening wear with a touch of sparkle — rich tones, classic black, or midnight hues”. Dignitaries were subject to inquiries from   radio and TV personality Smash Africa about their fashion choices for the night. For some like Reeza Hendricks — who enjoys the stylish stuff — it’s easy, for others like Lions head coach Russell Domingo, less so. Asked about his suit, Domingo said: “I just found this in the cupboard,. I think it’s a freebie I got when I was Proteas coach.” 

All Rhodes lead to gongs

Jonty Rhodes became the latest addition to the Lions’ galacticos coaching staff joining Allan Donald, Hashim Amla and Domingo, who’s coached two national teams. Many attending the awards night may not have been aware that Rhodes was now attached to the union, because there was an audible gasp when he was asked to head up to the stage to receive a prize on behalf of Delano Potgieter who is currently out of the country. Later, after he’d filled in for another recipient, he was being hailed as the greatest fielding coach the team ever had. “Only been here two days and already got all these awards, what an impact you’ve made, Jonty,” said MC Kuhle “Kooks” Sonkosi. Rhodes was quite happy to ham it up, flailing his arms and bowing to the audience. 

Saffas in sunny Sacramento

Sacramento, California, seems a good destination for South African sportsmen. Rayno Nel won the World’s Strongest Man competition there last weekend, while boxer Brian Mitchell won the IBF junior-lightweight crown from Tony Lopez in 1991. Must be the sunlight.

Good governance? Good grief!

EFF MP Eugene Mthethwa came up with an interesting suggestion to improve governance within the country’s troubled sports federations — government and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) should offer incentives. Forget incentives. Oddballs would rather see offenders getting punished — voted out or sent to jail. That would be a real incentive.