Jordaan Awaits GFA Response On Abedi

Abedi Pele's future as ambassador of South Africa 2010 World Cup hinges on a response from the Ghana Football Association in respect of the soccer legend's involvement in alleged match fixing involving his club, Nania FC.

At the monthly host city forum meeting last Monday afternoon at SAFA House in Johannesburg, the SA 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Danny Jordaan, advised on the LOC's stance regarding the allegations until it has been furnished with the full report of Abedi's alleged culpability in the incident.

The African soccer world was rocked two weeks ago by news reports that former Ghana captain and South Africa 2010 Ambassador Abedi, was involved in match-fixing.

Reports about the alleged match-fixing surfaced after Nania FC, beat Okwawu United 31-0 last month in a division one league game.

Pele, together with former Bafana Bafana stalwarts Mark Fish and Lucas Radebe and Cameroun legend Roger Milla, were ambassadors for South Africa when they were bidding for the 2010 World Cup.

"We (SALOC) have sent a letter to the Ghana Football Association enquiring about this incident regarding Abedi," Jordaan said.

"It is a matter for the Ghana Football Association to investigate as it happened there. We will wait for a response from them before we can take any action."

Jordaan stressed that the allegations of the kind surrounding Pele right now will not be tolerated by the LOC.

"We will not condone such actions by anyone involved with the LOC or by ambassadors for the 2010 World Cup. However, before we make any decisions we need factual information from the Ghana FA.

"I have spoken to Abedi but I won't say much of what he told me, we can only make our decision once the tribunal is held in Ghana," he stressed.

Pele is a three-time African Footballer of the Year and in March 2004, the legendary Pele of Brazil, named his African namesake in his list of 125 greatest living footballers.

Credit — SAPA