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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba has noted with appreciation the candidature of a woman for the presidency of the South African Football Association (SAFA) in the next SAFA elections that are scheduled to take place on 25 June 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
SAFA\u2019s Governance Committee released eligible candidates for SAFA elections on 6 June. The names of the candidates that have been nominated ahead of this year\u2019s SAFA elective congress were announced at a press conference last week. The names are: Dr Danny Jordaan (current SAFA President), Mr Solly Mohlabeng and Ms Ria Ledwaba.<\/p>\n
Ms Ria Ledwaba who is one of the current Vice Presidents of SAFA and the\u00a0founder of Ria Stars Football Club that played in the Premier Soccer League, is among the candidates and is the first female to be head of delegation in the AFCON qualifier match which South Africa won against Nigeria in 2019.<\/p>\n
Ms Ncube-Ndaba described Ria as an outstanding and a shining female football administrator who is a remarkable gift to the South African nation. \u201cRia emerged in the football sector at a time when the South African football needed people of her calibre as she embodies a mixture of visionary, strategic and developmental leadership attributes,\u201d said Ms Ncube-Ndaba.<\/p>\n
Ms Ncube-Ndaba said although there are policies in place on gender equality and mainstreaming calling for the full participation of women in decision-making so that women\u2019s needs move from the margins to the centre of development planning and resource allocation, Ria\u2019s involvement and growth in soccer is on merit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer football profile confirms beyond doubt that she is fitting particularly for SAFA\u2019s primary mandate of promoting and facilitating the development of football through infrastructural and training initiatives across the country,\u201d added Ms Ncube-Ndaba.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n