The South African Masters and Legends Football Association (SAMLFA) has called for greater integration into Safa structures on merit, asserting that former players should not be excluded when they possess valuable knowledge to impart to current and future generations.
Safa is set to assemble for their elective congress on Saturday, where incumbent president Danny Jordaan will seek another term against AmaZulu owner and prominent businessman Sandile Zungu.
SAMLFA is among the stakeholders backing Zungu. The association feels Jordaan has failed South African football during his tenure, particularly in supporting former players and legends who dedicated their playing careers to the nation.
While they believe they deserve a seat at the table, SAMLFA — who face being discarded as a Safa associate member after failing to meet compliance criteria ahead of the congress — stressed that they are not seeking handouts. Instead, they feel they have the tangible experience and technical knowledge to back up their appeal.
“As former footballers, we are not looking for handouts or claiming that the country owes us something,” stated SAMLFA Gauteng chairman and former goalkeeper Patson Banda. “What we are saying is that we want to be part and parcel of the development of football in this country.
“They must get us involved in all the required spaces where our knowledge is needed. People are dying like flies, yet they haven’t passed on what they have. The type of talent we had is incomparable.
“These youngsters cannot match any of us, nor can they match what we had. It is up to us to impart this knowledge. By the time I pass on, I want to be happy as an ancestor to say: that’s me, that’s my work. I must be proud of my work when I'm gone. We are going down bitterly.”
Banda acknowledges that not every legend or former player can become a coach. Consequently, he highlighted other specialised skills — such as contributing to Safa's coaching curricula — as key avenues for former players to give back.
“We have people in our midst who can write manuals that will bring our local culture and style of play back into the public domain,” Banda added. “We have that unique insight.
“I, for one, am capable of writing a manual that can restore our football to what it once was. We possess a distinct football philosophy, similar to what is taught in formal coaching courses.”
While Banda made his name at Pirates, he emphasised his proven track record in player development to show why he remains a relevant figure in South African football.
“In 2006, I was appointed as the goalkeeper coach for the Under-20 national team. I worked with Amajita, where Itumeleng Khune and the late Senzo Meyiwa were my two goalkeepers. I trained those youngsters and elevated their game,” Banda said. “If you saw how Khune attacked crosses, you saw a duplicate of what I did.
“I am certified and have an edge due to my experience, yet they never offer us opportunities. I understand football theory — I was among the first to obtain specialised goalkeeper training certification from Fifa, starting with their Level 1 introduction.”