Hands off Mokoena – heads must roll at Safa

What more can be said about the South African Football Association (Safa) that hasn't been said before?

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The latest fiasco has once again exposed a deep-rooted culture of incompetence. After Fifa’s sanction over the Teboho Mokoena incident, it should not be business as usual, heads must roll at Safa.

Yet, instead of directing criticism solely where it belongs, some have astonishingly pointed fingers at Mokoena for failing to realise he was suspended for the World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

That argument is unfair and absurd. A footballer’s duty is to perform on the pitch, not to keep track of disciplinary records.

In the controversial fixture in March 2025, Mokoena starred in Bafana’s 2-0 victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium. Of course, he should never have been eligible to play, having picked up yellow cards against Nigeria and Zimbabwe back in June 2024.