SAFA to deliberate on renaming a stadium in Pele’s memory

SAFA president Danny Jordaan has reacted to the plea by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to have member associations name at least one stadium after the late football icon Pele.

Pele passed away in December last year following a battle with cancer.

During his funeral in Brazil, FIFA president Infantino said he would ask every country to name a stadium in honour of the greatest footballer.

Colombia, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde are some of the countries that have already confirmed they would honour the late Pele by naming one stadium after him.

Speaking at SA FM Sports Show, Sport On, on Monday evening, Jordaan admits that while it’s not in the hands of SAFA or football authorities to rename a stadium, it opens up a debate to deal with the issue.

“In South Africa’s case, of course, it has opened a very important debate,” said Jordaan.

“Rugby has many stadiums named after Rugby Icons or administrators, football hardly anything. So, it is an important debate for us.

“Now, the second thing is that football doesn’t own any stadiums, nor does it have lease agreements in these stadiums.

“While Rugby either owns the stadium or has a long lease agreement. Therefore the debate as to what the stadium must be named and after who the stadium must be named is actually not based on the hands of football.

“But it is outside, either the city or the provincial government or national government,” he explained.

Jordaan added: “So, this thing of naming a stadium after Pele opens a focus for the need for football to deal with. But I don’t think you can have 211 Pele stadiums all over the world.

“We will have an NEC Meeting where we will discuss this matter and we will make our position clear.

“We have to put it before the NEC that this is the suggestion. But you can’t name something that you don’t own. But we don’t own the stadiums. so, the government may ask ‘who told you to name this stadium after anybody for that matter’.

“So, we will have to have that debate, both the lack of ownership and control of football facilities and football stadiums in the country and the recognition not just for Pele but for football Icons in our country.

The SAFA president went on to say that there are talks to honours SA football legends heroes first.

“I heard someone saying what about Kalamazoo (Steve Mokone). There are many others you have mentioned Jomo Sono, Kaizer Motaung and so on. But it’s not a decision that I can take,” he said.

“The NEC will discuss it, we will reflect on what view has been expressed. I am sure we will come out and announce the position of the NEC and also inform FIFA.”

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