Gayton McKenzie delivers two-pronged challenge to SAFA’s Danny Jordaan
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has delivered a stern two-pronged challenge to the SA Football Association [SAFA] president Danny Jordaan.
McKenzie took on the role of sports minister after the 2024 SA elections, and since assuming office, he has displayed a hands-on approach and a strong determination to bring about positive change in South African sports.
Notably, Bafana Bafana had struggled to make an impact until the appointment of Belgian coach Hugo Broos in May 2021.
Under Broos’ leadership, SA achieved a commendable third-place finish in the 2023 AFCON finals held in January in Ivory Coast, marking a significant improvement in their performance. Moving forward, Bafana Bafana aims to build on this success and solidify their position as a strong contender on the international stage.
Bafana Bafana is actively participating in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers. The team last qualified for a FIFA World Cup tournament in 2002; in 2010, they secured automatic qualification as hosts of the event.
In their recent match AFCON qualifier tie against Uganda at Orlando Stadium, Bafana Bafana played out to a disappointing 2-2 draw. Their upcoming challenge is an away game against South Sudan at Juba Stadium on Tuesday, September 10, with the match scheduled to commence at 15:00.
Despite their uplifting performance in securing the bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, their first podium finish since 2000, doubts persist regarding Bafana Bafana and SAFA president Jordaan.
Minister McKenzie’s call for improvement underscores the ongoing efforts to elevate the standard and reputation of South African football.
GAYTON MCKENZIE CHALLENGES SAFA’S DANNY JORDAAN
The minister made it explicitly clear in his public statement that he communicated to Danny Jordaan and SAFA the critical importance of ensuring that Bafana Bafana successfully qualifies for the 2025 AFCON title as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He stressed that failure to achieve these goals would result in significant organizational changes within SAFA.
“At the moment, I don’t have full confidence [in football]; I have full confidence in rugby. Full confidence doesn’t come with talk; it comes with results. I have full confidence in rugby, the results are there for us to see, the results are not there with SAFA,” said McKenzie.
“I’m not a man that gets overpowered and gets impressed with words, I like action. I told the man that you are talking about, Dr Danny Jordaan, and I told SAFA, I gave them two deliverables. I’m the ultimate accounting authority when it comes to football and sport in this country.
‘BAFANA MUST QUALITY FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP AND 2025 AFCON’
“I said to them, qualify for the [2026] FIFA World Cup, qualify for the [2025] AFCON finals. I’m giving them all the support now, but I cannot give support until the kingdom comes to people who are not performing. A country like ours needs to qualify for the World Cup and for the Nations Cup; these things are not difficult.
“Countries like Burkina Faso don’t have our type of money in sport. Do you know we are the most funded league on the African continent, the PSL? How come we can’t win the Nations Cup? How come we can’t be in the World Cup? Imagine the mediocracy.
“I’m going to make sure I’m public about it; they know it, and I know it. For now, they have my support, but soon, if they don’t qualify, we must get people that will qualify.”
RELATED STORY: What Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie told SAFA