With the deadline for candidacy nominations for Safa Cape Town’s elections, scheduled for next month, closed on Monday, it will be interesting to see who’s in and who’s out.
Needless to say, lobbying and canvassing are already in motion with the current Safa CT leadership, under Bennett Bailey (pictured), seeking to stand unopposed.
Should this become a reality, it will be a historical third term for Bailey, who is also jostling for position at National, as well as Provincial level. Remember, Bailey, who has become a Trump-like figure in local sporting circles, also has a position at FIFA and often attends CAF conferences as well.
However, it appears that Bailey has lost some of his popularity and ground after his region was found to have acted unfairly in the matter regarding its treasurer, Wayne Weitz. The controversy surrounding the Palestine issue is also still nagging and lurking.
Given this, some of his comrades have started to question if football in the metro is really in a sound space. No Bones with Jones understands that Bailey is feeling a bit uncomfortable and has already started to question some of his ‘allies’ if they are standing or running in the upcoming elections. Not to mention the Cape’s football boss aspirations at national level.
As one of them stated, “Even if I did, how can he expect me not to canvas but he is allowed to?’ Given all this, it will be interesting to see if the current administration will be replaced or if the status quo remains.
The fact of the matter is also, based on results, what has the region implemented or achieved during Bailey’s previous two terms?
I also don’t think Bailey’s predecessors have suspended so many football administrators like the ‘Buffalo’, as Bailey is called, did during his two terms. Guys like Faizel Samaai, Mario Van Niekerk, Nathan Less, Wayne Jones, Ivan Williams, Lutfeyah Abrahams, Morris Bacaza and Clive Bailey have all experienced firsthand what it feels like to challenge the “Buffalo.”
Any proper football lover will testify that football administration has actually gone backwards, which is a shame because clubs make a lot of (financial) sacrifices to grow and be progressive and successful.
But because the football custodians don’t have the appetite to maximise and elevate these aspects to help glorify football and to make it attractive in the metro once again, all the efforts lower down are unfortunately in vain. How is it also that some clubs have managed to attract sponsors, but the region can’t (keep any)?
