Dream makers can end the nightmare

Jordaan and Khoza must join forces for the good of the game at all levels

WHAT a mixed brew 2011 has produced for the two barons of South African football. When the clock hits 11.59pm on December 31, Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza will look back on the year from contrasting perspectives.

Former 2010 World Cup Organising Committee chief executive Jordaan has designs on a Fifa executive committee seat.

Much of his energy since Africa's historic World Cup has been channelled into fulfilling his burning desire to follow in the footsteps of Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer, whose organising of the 1998 and 2006 World Cups helped elevate them to the highest echelons of world football's governing body.

But Jordaan has yet to attain that goal and has been badly bruised in the attempt.

His bid for election to the Caf executive came to nought during the federation's 33rd congress in Khartoum, Sudan in February. Of the five candidates, Jordaan came second last. Instead, the seats went to Mohamed Raouraoua and Jacques Anouma.

The second blow to Jordaan's bid came in Botswana last week when Suketu Patel of the Seychelles was re-elected unopposed by the 14 members of the Council of Southern African Football Associations after Jordaan withdrew his challenge for the regional presidency at the 11th hour. It has been doom and gloom for Jordaan, but on the flip side, things are rosy for Khoza.

There was a time when Premier Soccer League football was run like a spaza shop, with salaries paid out of car boots, if the players were lucky to be paid at all.

Today, the PSL is a model, multi-million rand professional body, whereas the same cannot be said about a SA Football Association, bedevilled by its multi-headed demons.

It is safe to assume that Orlando Pirates would have long been relegated from top-flight football had Khoza not stepped in to arrest the chaos that was the club administration.

He shored up the sinking ship and played no small part in steering it to calmer waters - read: clinching the Champions League.

He promised the then long-suffering Pirates supporters that he would focus all his attention on the club on concluding World Cup business.

Since his return, Pirates have been playing Father Christmas, gifting trophies to the Ghost (Pirates supporters).

Khoza was seen as a sadist when he didn't extend treble-winning coach Ruud Krol's contract. But Julio Leal is continuing where Krol left off, with two trophies of his own. Even Jordaan, himself a Ghost, is sharing in that jubilation.

South African soccer cannot ignore Jordaan. Neither can it do without Khoza. These men should be discouraged from thinking that either one of them is bigger than the game. They are but a small fraction of the sum total. It would be a disgrace if their stubbornness prevented them reining in their egos to harness their energies for the good of the game.

Why am I so confident they can rescue Safa from this abyss of tomfoolery? Look no further than the World Cup for irrefutable evidence.

They have as much of a knack for making history as they have a history of working together. Their work in the failed bid for 2006, the success for 2010 and right through the organisation of the World Cup tells us so.

Khoza and Jordaan can sort out the sausage factory that is Safa. Not many changes need to be made as both are already vice-presidents.

Never has the moment been more opportune for the Khoza-Jordaan combination to get to grips with the garbage at Safa House.

Lord knows, Safa needs the kiss of life from these two doctors because all the other remedies have failed.

It is time for Danny and Irvin to do it again.