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Danny Jordaan

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
SOUTH African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan has pleaded with his countrymen to rally behind the Warriors at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament in Gabon as a way of honouring Zimbabwean players in the Absa Premiership.

The Warriors are the only team from Southern Africa at the Afcon, which kicked off on Saturday. They are making their third appearance in the tournament, having last participated in 2006.

Speaking during the competition’s opening ceremony in the Gabonese capital Libreville on Saturday, Jordaan said it is time for South Africans to show their support to their neighbours as they had become a family.

“South Africans know almost all the Zimbabwean players and this is their chance to show their support. Like all people, I wish Bafana Bafana were here, but we have to move on in life. There is a good team in Zimbabwe and they are like family to us,” said Jordaan.

Jordaan, who is vying for a top Caf position against Seychelles’ Suketu Patel, Namibia’s Frans Mbidi and Rui Eduardo da Costa from Angola, also said despite the pre-tournament problems that enveloped the Warriors’ camp, he was hopeful they would spring a surprise.

“All the Algerian media and public are talking about is Senegal and Tunisia, but I’m thinking only of Zimbabwe. I know they had some pre-tournament problems regarding bonuses, but the Cup of Nations history is littered with teams who defied off-field problems to succeed,” said Jordaan.

The Safa boss also has his sights set on a post for African representatives to the Fifa Council for the period between 2017 and 2022.

@khumzallen