The move came in the wake of a request from the Lesotho Football Association to play their 2010 Afcon/ World Cup qualifying home matches in South Africa.
In a meeting held at Safa House in Johannesburg on Friday, the NEC agreed to work closely with the Football governing body of Lesotho in ensuring that all three matches to be played on South African soil are a success, in terms of logistics and regulations of Caf and Fifa.
Lesotho’s three home matches will be played at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein; they will take on Ghana on June 7-8, followed by Libya on June 14-15 and finally Gabon on the weekend of September 6-7.
The Lesotho Football Association Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mafole Sematlane says they are grateful to Safa for the support.
“Setsoto Stadium is currently under going major upgrades and we are grateful to Safa for agreeing to host our matches; South Africa is home away from home and we are hoping to start creating a vibe that is associated with the Fifa World Cup;” said Sematlane.
Safa CEO Raymond Hack says the Association’s mission statement inspires the football family to contribute to Africa’s ascendancy in world football through the hosting of major events in Africa, while aspiring and striving to become a leading football playing nation.
Safa President Molefi Oliphant will convene an International Board Meeting to finalise protocol around Lesotho matches to be played in South Africa.
It was also announced that Oliphant has been appointed Chairman of Beach football and Futsal (Indoor Football) by the Confederation of African Football, and the SAFA President has also completed his Masters Degree in Education from the University of North West, and currently preparing for a PhD to research life skills programme for professional football players in the country.
