Sports

SAFA President Danny Jordaan under investigation over fraud, theft allegations

Published

2 months ago

March 10, 2024

The President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, is currently under investigation over allegations of fraud and theft of the association’s funds.

On Friday, the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (Hawks) carried a raid on the Safa House with search and seizure warrants as part of their investigation into the allegations.

A statement by the South African Police Service confirming the raid alleged tha Jordaan had used his position as Safa President to siphon the organization’s resources for personal gain to the tune of R1.3 million, which is in breach of Safa statutes.

“The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation executed search seizure warrants this morning, 08 March 2024, at the South African Football Association’s office,” the police statement.

“The warrants were promoted by allegations of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million.

“The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of Safa used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain including hiring a private security company for his personal protection, a Public Relations company without authorisation from the Safa Board.

“The president is also reported to have violated Safa statutes thus prejudicing Safa an actual loss of R1.3 million.

“During the search, a laptop, external hard drives, a USB and documents were seized,” the statement noted.

According to a statement from the Hawks, its investigation reveals tha “between 2014 and 2018, the SAFA President used company resources for his personal use after hiring a private security company for his personal protection.”

Though Jordaan has not been arrested just yet, the police say he has been invited for questioning over the allegations.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.