Danny Jordaan

Danny Jordaan (born 3 September 1951) is the president of the South African Football Association (SAFA). He is a former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid activist. He led South Africa's successful 2010 FIFA World Cup bid, the first successful one for Africa, as well as the country's unsuccessful bid four years earlier for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and was the chief executive officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. He is also the former Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, having served from May 2015 until August 2016. Quotes There were moments when my conviction about the project was challenged. And it was not just a challenge about the World Cup – but a challenge as to who you are and what you believe in. But after the sacrifice of so many during apartheid, we knew we could not fail or give in. Of course there was doubt along the way – but you never acknowledge it publicly." Even in the days of the struggle we had many such moments where we thought, 'Gosh, are we going to see liberation in our lifetime?' But when you go out and get on the podium you say, 'Liberation is coming!' You never show doubt. So, in the same way, I hope I've been consistent all the way through in saying that this World Cup will happen and it will be a great success. I think this is going to be the best World Cup we've ever seen. It's going to be a wonderful celebration, with intense emotion and all the passion of the South African people. The world is about to discover the real South Africa, and I think they will be surprised." As you sit there, seeing your goods being packed into a truck under police and army guard, the pain burns into you. It's a pain we still feel. To see your family, helpless, surrounded by police, watching the bulldozers roll towards your home, which is then flattened, you change on the inside. This is the moment the pain gets into you – as the bricks tumble and your home is crushed to dust. We went to Korsten and then we were moved again to Bethelsdorp, which is quite a distance from Port Elizabeth. They also bulldozed my school but I made it to university and joined SASO – where Steve Biko was the president." External links Category:Living people