8 May 2023 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has appointed former COO Ms Lydia Monyepao as the Association’s new CEO.
She takes over from Adv Tebogo Motlanthe who has quit the position with immediate effect due to personal reasons.
Addressing the media on Monday (8 May 2023) on her appointment, SAFA President Dr Jordaan said having worked for the organisation in several positions, the former Banyana Banyana player and South Africa senior women’s national team manager was well equipped for the job.
“We wish her all the best. Certainly at the SAFA Emergency Committee meeting yesterday (Sunday, 8 May 2023, the decision was unanimous. Everyone agreed to the appointment of Lydia Monyepao as the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Football Association. So, congratulations, and you have to hit the ground running. The first engagement is tomorrow (Tuesday, 9 May 2023) in Cape Town with the government,” the SAFA President said.
“She knows all the deadlines (for South Africa’s bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup) because she has been working on all these matters anyway, and it is nothing new.”
In her acceptance speech, Monyepao said she was aware of the challenges of the new role but was up to the task.
‘’It is big shoes that I am filling and I have to hit the ground running,” she said.
“I am capable of hitting the ground running, I will accept the task and take the work forward. I am not naïve in terms of what is required for this job. I know the challenges that surround any CEO of the South African Football Association, I am not blind to that.
“But as indicated, no job is easy and you have to take it as it comes and apply what you are good at, and what you are capable of. Thank you very much to the President and to the SAFA NEC for having confidence in me and my abilities. My CV will show you in terms of my previous experience and my educational, so I believe I am capable of this.”
The new CEO holds a Masters in Sports Management from Loughborough University in the UK, BCom Honours in Accounting (CTA) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand, among others.
Outgoing CEO Adv Motlanthe, who also briefly attended the Press Conference, said he was leaving the Association in good hands, adding there was no bad blood with the SAFA hierarchy.
He also said he had handed his signed resignation letter to the SAFA President and distanced himself from a letter that has been circulated in the media in the last few days.
“It is indeed true that I have handed my resignation and I have sent a letter (to the SAFA President) that I have signed. The one which is on social media, I would like to categorical say it is not my letter and I do not know,” he said. “Mine has a signature and has my reasons. My reasons are personal and private.”
He thanked Dr Danny Jordaan for the opportunity to lead such a big organisation like SAFA and said his relationship with the Association remains cordial.
“I don’t have any bad blood with anyone, including the President. We worked very well with the President, he has been a father and he has guided me. It is just a personal decision that I have taken. I would like to thank the National Executive Committee, they have given me support, the regions, members and staff, I wish all of them all of the best.
“I support the bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We started with the process with me being there and I’m not divorcing myself from it. I will continue to support it from outside. As I said to the President, wherever he needs me I will be available. We are not leaving each other on bad terms as it has been painted out there. There is no bad blood. It is just a personal decision.”