SAFA
Smiso Msomi|Published
Linda Zwane, Natasha Tsichlas and Tankiso Modipa have taken up key positions in South African football’s governing body, bringing different experiences in administration, club football and development to SAFA’s leadership.
The trio were elected vice-presidents following the South African Football Association’s recent national executive committee meeting in Sandton, joining president Danny Jordaan’s leadership team for another four-year term.
Their backgrounds offer a glimpse into the people tasked with helping shape SAFA’s Vision 2030 and the future of the game.
Linda Zwane: A football administrator beyond SAFA
Zwane’s administrative career began in 1996 after playing for Botleng Classic FC and briefly trying his hand at coaching. He progressed through local and regional structures in Mpumalanga before becoming a prominent figure in provincial and national football administration.
He has served as president of SAFA Nkangala and held positions within the Victor Khanye Local Football Association. Beyond football, Zwane is president of the Mpumalanga Sport Confederation and a member of the SASCOC board, where he chairs the Coaches Commission.
His appointment to the COSAFA executive committee in May 2026 further expanded his influence into regional football governance.
Zwane has identified grassroots development, equitable resource distribution, coaching education and stronger schools football structures as priorities. His challenge is to ensure that opportunities extend beyond established football centres and reach players in rural and township communities.
Natasha Tsichlas: A longstanding presence in the game
Tsichlas has built a reputation through decades of involvement in football administration, most notably at Mamelodi Sundowns, where she served as managing director.
She played a prominent role in the club’s administration alongside her late husband, Angelo Tsichlas, during a formative period in Sundowns’ history. The club subsequently grew into one of the most successful sides in South African football.
Her experience also extends into SAFA and international football structures, including involvement in preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Tsichlas has remained a prominent woman in a football administration landscape historically dominated by men. Her continued presence in SAFA’s leadership provides institutional experience, with women’s football development and the broader professionalisation of the game among the areas requiring sustained attention.
Tankiso Modipa: From regional structures to national leadership
Modipa is the newest member of the vice-presidential trio, having replaced Bennett Bailey.
His experience includes leadership roles within SAFA’s Western Cape structures and service on the national executive committee. He also chairs the National Working Committee of the Football Transformation Forum, which backed Jordaan during the recent presidential election.
Modipa’s administrative background gives him a regional perspective on football development and the challenges facing structures outside the country’s major centres.
His elevation creates an opportunity to bring those concerns into national decision-making, particularly around access, transformation and pathways for young players.
The challenge ahead
The three administrators now share responsibility for helping develop SAFA’s Vision 2030 alongside chief executive officer Lydia Monyepao.
Jordaan has identified schools football, player development and national-team excellence as central priorities.
Their experience provides a foundation, but their legacy will ultimately be judged by measurable progress: stronger grassroots structures, improved coaching pathways and better opportunities for players across the country.
For SAFA’s three vice-presidents, the next four years must be about turning those ambitions into tangible outcomes.