G'day
So now I can't express my views on what happened with Banyana Banyana because, apparently, SAFA doesn't owe me a cent nor a coaching job! That's according to a certain SAFA NEC member who tried to make himself relevant by taking cheap shots at me. July 2nd, 2023, will go down in the history books of South African football as one of the worst days. What happened at Tsakane Stadium should never have happened and everyone saw what happened, as SABC 1 beamed the whole thing. That was something I never thought we'd experience in this day and age of South African football.
This is a situation that we can't allow to just slip through the fingers and be forgotten about. The transition that happened in 1992 and 2023 for us to experience what we saw, I have no words. But, as one of the players who were offered an opportunity to represent the country and carry the South African flag, it pained me to see what happened because I went out there as a soldier together with my teammates and different coaches. We went out there to represent this very same flag that is spat on today. We always made sure that the flag and people of South Africa were always respected. A simple scenario, it was not by favouritism for players to be called up to the national team. It was simply because they'd earned it through their exceptional performances at club level. It pains me when I recall the sleepless nights we spent in some African countries where there was no proper food or water, with hostile treatment. We did all of that because we knew what representing our country meant and took.
What happened in Tsakane took everything away and really hurt me a lot because this Banyana team know what their predecessors have done and gone through. Let me just leave what happened on the day and deal with this particular individual, a certain Monde Montshiwa, who happens to be a SAFA NEC member and please check the attached screenshots for his reaction to my analysis and views on what transpired at Tsakane Stadium, as I was doing my television work. Once again, this is a SAFA NEC member and me being in the studio, apparently it was illegal for me to give my views and I was wrong because I don't have a right to have an opinion, according to what I see from the esteemed NEC member. For you, Sir, to have the audacity to question my integrity is just unbelievable as you exposed your lack of thinking capacity and even embarrassed the very same Association you represent. You tell me, in your own words or experience, if this is the kind of people leading our football, what are the chances of us achieving great things? If an NEC member can utter such words in a public domain, I can't help but get worried. This is really embarrassing to both SAFA and the NEC because these are two of the most important stakeholders of our football.
This statement shows our football is run by people who don't understand the game and this exposes and embarrasses SAFA. If you were to question my integrity with these kinds of utterances, you lead me to the following questions: Did I ever go out and say I want to coach Kaizer Chiefs? Did I ever submit my CV for any of their jobs? You really spoke like a supporter who knows nothing about football, for someone in such a powerful and important position, and you're worrying me. Let me tell you, Mr Montshiwa, you've disgraced SAFA and the NEC members. You are just an empty tin with no understanding or experience of what football is all about. Leave football to people who know, understand, played it and achieve way more than you can ever imagine of doing in your air-conditioned office. We were the foot soldiers who went out here and got our hands dirty, representing this country, and for someone who hasn't done anything for this game to disrespect me like that is something I will never accept. Instead of using your position to serve the people of this country, you're busy dragging SAFA and the NEC's names through the mud. For the record, SAFA doesn't belong to you or any NEC member! I will give it to you, listen here, you've trampled on the wrong toes.
My sweat for this country made it possible for our flag to be respected not only in the continent but the world. My legs ensured that our flag was among the top flags in big international football tournaments. How dare you disrespect me like that? What have you done for South African football, as a SAFA NEC member? What did you do to avoid the embarrassment that we saw in Tsakane, as someone holding an important and powerful position? This is not about Dr Danny Jordaan but all of you. Who do you think you are, addressing me like that? You must have probably taken some substance that drove you to be talking to me like that. You are so disappointing and I've always believed the NEC was full of people who know their story, but I am not sure about that anymore. I can raise my hand and say I served this country and protected its image over the years. I fought and delivered for this beautiful country and played a role in placing SAFA where they are today. I have played a role to pave the way for the current Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana teams. What have you done?
I will tell you now, if you have any doubts about my contribution to this game, please ask those who have been watching and following football and they will tell you. Maybe you just walked into SAFA through a gravy train with no real interest in the game or serving the people. You probably don't know who you were addressing with those weak utterances. Once again, I will tell you in your face about everything I have achieved in this game and ask you a simple question: What have you done for South African football? As a member of the NEC, what have you done to avoid the embarrassment we saw in Tsakane? Listen here, Monde, you might be in the NEC, but you clearly don't seem to understand what are you there for. You speak like someone who lacks understanding and I know of a lot of football supporters who have a better understanding than you, yet they are not holding any positions of power and influence. I must say, once again, you've just disgraced yourself and the Association, my brother.
It is people like yourself that make people call for change in order for our foot-ball to grow and progress. Clearly, it is no longer about football but politics now. Just tell me what you've done for this game, to improve it, grow it and respect the players' views. Unfortunately for you, I wrote my own history and it is well-documented, but what about you? I didn't disappoint and you failed to deliver on the 2nd of July and embarrassed the country, only to talk c**p about me? I don't think you were sober and it sure doesn't look like it.
Let me give it to you, SAFA doesn't belong to individuals. This is a national entity and any individual is allowed to share their views about the progress or any developments taking place at SAFA without being disrespected by any NEC member. This is not a Monde show but national foot- ball, so I don't know what makes you think you are important or more important than the game itself. Any individual who feels the need to raise their views has a right to do so. What happened there was an embarrassment to South Africa, not just the football fraternity. It was an embarrassment and you should be ashamed of yourself for failing our people. Instead of coming up with a solution, you choose to attack me for expressing my views. Wow! You've just proved to the nation that our football is in wrong hands! I will ask again, what have you done for South African football? Whatever transpired in Tsakane is not about Danny Jordaan alone but SAFA and the whole NEC, which means you are also included, but what have you done to resolve the issue? This is a SAFA problem, but what role are you playing to solve the problem, since you seem to be the most important NEC member? My brother, you've made a big mistake and barked a wrong tree! You've just exposed yourself as an empty tin that has no knowledge or understanding of the game. If you really want it, I can come and give it to you face-to-face! I just thought I'd share your vile social media post so that our people can see the kind of leadership we have. Then you wonder why we are in the position we find ourselves in.
Sir, do you even understand what a FIFA World Cup is? Do you understand what it means to wear the national team jersey at Afcon or in the World Cup? Do you understand what it means to be out there singing the national anthem? Have you done any of those things to come and tell me SAFA doesn't owe me anything? For your information, I don't need anything from you guys. I've played my part, paid my dues and moving on with my life. I have delivered on my mandate, but can we say the same about you? I never asked for anything from SAFA, so what are you talking about? Who told you I needed a coaching post at SAFA or somewhere else? I don't need anything from anyone. All I want is for SAFA to do the right thing for the poor Banyana players who are representing the country, is that too much to ask? Am I wrong to look after the interest of the players since they are what and who I know the best? You should be ashamed of yourself!
Instead of dealing with the embarrassment you guys caused the country, you choose to tackle me without the ball. You've failed the country, dismally, and don't you ever dare attack me unprovoked because I can go on and on. I have done so much for this country and, once again, with your big mouth, can the same be said about you? You need to go back to your drawing board and choose your battles wisely because I'm way above your weight. Before I go, do you care to let the country know exactly what is happening and why our ladies refused to play? Can you please take the country into your confidence and assure us that all is well with Banyana's preparations for the World Cup? Shouldn't those be the things you are preoccupied with than me? I don't usually respond to mediocrity, but I felt your vile social media post can't go unchallenged. I had to put you in your place for disrespecting me like that when I haven't said nor done anything to you personally. If you have a problem with me as an individual, deal with it without involving SAFA. When you embarrass the country, where does Chiefs come in? What are you trying to say?
