The South African Masters and Legends Football Association (Samlfa) has advocated for increased inclusion within the SAFA structures based on merit, arguing that former athletes should not be excluded if they hold valuable expertise to share with present and future generations.
SAFA is scheduled to convene its elective congress on September 12th. During this event, the current president, Danny Jordaan, will campaign for another term against Sandile Zungu, a prominent businessman and owner of AmaZulu.
Samlfa is listed among the stakeholders supporting Zungu. The association expressed dissatisfaction with Jordaan's performance in South African football throughout his leadership, specifically citing his perceived failure to support former players and legends who devoted their playing careers to the nation.
Although Samlfa believes it deserves a place at the decision-making table, the association faces the risk of being removed as an associate member of Safa due to non-compliance with criteria before the congress. However, Samlfa insists that its appeal is not based on seeking favors, but rather on possessing practical experience and technical knowledge.
Patson Banda, the chairman of Samlfa Gauteng and a former goalkeeper, emphasized this point, stating, “As former footballers, we are not looking for handouts or claiming that the country owes us something. What we are saying is that we want to be part and parcel of the development of football in this country.”
He continued, stressing the urgency of knowledge transfer: “They must get us involved in all the required spaces where our knowledge is needed. People are dying like flies, yet they haven’t passed on what they have. The type of talent we had is incomparable. These youngsters cannot match any of us, nor can they match what we had. It is up to us to impart this knowledge.”
Banda further elaborated that while not every legend can transition into coaching, there are other specialized contributions, such as developing Safa's coaching curricula, which former players can make. He noted, “We have people in our midst who can write manuals that will bring our local culture and style of play back into the public domain. We have that unique insight.”
Regarding his own capabilities, Banda asserted, “I, for one, am capable of writing a manual that can restore our football to what it once was. We possess a distinct football philosophy, similar to what is taught in formal coaching courses.”
Despite having established his reputation at Orlando Pirates, Banda highlighted his successful history in player development to underscore his ongoing relevance in South African football. He recalled, “In 2006, I was appointed as the goalkeeper coach for the U20 national team. I worked with Amajita, where Itumeleng Khune and the late Senzo Meyiwa were my two goalkeepers. I trained those youngsters and elevated their game.”
Banda concluded by mentioning his qualifications, stating, “I am certified and have an edge due to my experience, yet they never offer us opportunities. I understand football theory – I was among the first to obtain specialised goalkeeper training certification from Fifa, starting with their Level 1 introduction.”