Safa scores! But is it an own goal?

Either it’s a fiasco or it’s a godsend. South African Football Association's much-anticipated presidential vote at the weekend resulted in the two elephants of the sport, Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza, unexpectedly withdrawing, leading to the election of a slightly bewildered Kirsten Nematandani. In the ensuing confusion, commentators struggled to work out whether the muddle was a perfect solution to a fractious contest or another example of SA’s soccer chaos a scant 254 days before the 2010 World Cup kick-off. Fifa had asked that, should Jordaan or Khoza win the presidency, they vacate their positions on the World Cup local organising committee. Nematandani promised a “president who cares and will make sure we have stability, accountability and principles”. Maybe time and the TV ref will be the best judges.