By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan had a fruitful meeting with Fifa President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the Best Fifa Football Awards in the French capital Paris on Monday, 27 February 2023.
The two discussed various football matters which impact the global game as well as matters regarding South African football.
Among the issues on the table was a dissection of recently ended Fifa World Cup in Qatar as well as reflecting on the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the only World Cup to be held on the African continent.
Also on the discussion was the upcoming first 48 Nations Fifa World Cup to be hosted in USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
“I had a meeting with the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino,” said Jordaan from Paris where Lionel Messi was named FIFA Best player of 2022.”
“We discussed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, reflected on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the first 48 Nations FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.”
Jordaan was at the heart of the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup as the CEO of the Local Organising Committee when Sepp Blatter was the FIFA president, with SA winning the hosting rights on 15 May 2004.
It was regarded as one of the best World Cup in 2010 that brought back life in the coffers of FIFA.
“We also discussed the South African bid for the 2027 FIFA Women World Cup,” added Jordaan.
Jordaan is convinced most of the players in the current team will be at their peak in four years. Therefore, there is positivity around that particular tournament.
Most of these players will be at their peak because, after 2027, many of them will be at the end of their careers. That is the moment – 2027 – a World Cup in South Africa” he added.
Under Vision 2030, SAFA’s drive is to see the number of women involved in football increase to 1 million from 450000.
Interestingly, when Vision 2022 started, SAFA started at a low base of 50000, which has since increased to 450000. “Vision 2022 took us to 450 000, but 2030 should take us to a million.”
Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, will be visiting the country at the invitation of SAFA to help give a scope on how to expedite the football development, especially at grassroots level. Wenger is a Fifa development manager and Jordaan said it will be prudent for SAFA to tap into his vast knowledge.