SEXWALE FOR PRESIDENT! The man we call Tokyo is ready to give old friend Blatter the chop at FIFA

JUST GOOD FRIENDS: Sepp Blatter and Tokyo Sexwale

MOSIMA GABRIEL SEXWALE. They call him Tokyo because he loved karate as a kid. And everyone's asking WHO is this reclusive South African millionaire thrust back in to the spotlight by his willingness to stand for FIFA president on February 26?

What was it he said yesterday? "The brand of FIFA is seriously damaged following various scandals. It needs to be restored."

Brave sentiments. Now 62, Sexwale has never been involved in professional football as a player or administrator, but that shouldn’t rule him out of contention against a diverse list of people who have thrown their names into the hat to replace the currently suspended Sepp Blatter.

Described by the Guardian in the UK as “ an apartheid-era political prisoner turned multimillionaire mining tycoon”, Tokyo is listed only as FIFA’s “anti-racism” advisor. His latest mission was to sort out the "normalisation" of football in Palestine and Israel... he has played no public part in footballing or sporting administration in South Africa.

Sexwale (it’s NOT pronounced Sex Whale, for Westerners who can’t click it’s more like Sesh Waa Lay) didn’t have much time for sport as a young man, he was too busy (like many of his generation) fighting South Africa’s inhuman political philosophy Apartheid (pronounced Aparthate).

He’s a struggle hero in his home country, which comes with its own unique pressures. Most famously of all, he was jailed on Robben Island alongside the father of the nation, Nelson Mandela. When Aparthate fell in 1994, Tokyo became the first democratic Premier of Gauteng, the province which grew out of the old Transvaal, incorporating the huge metropolis of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the financial hub of the mining nation.

SMILE PLEASE: Blatter, Sexwale and Valcke with
Nelson Mandela during the World Cup in 2010

Politically, Sexwale was once headed for the presidency, but his attempts to unseat South Africa’s second democratic president Thabo Mbeki failed as Jacob Zuma slipped in to the hot-seat after the ANC’s Polokwane conference in 2007.

From 2009 to 2013, Tokyo was Minister of Human Settlements but his time in the ruling African National Congress came to an end when he chose once more to invest his energy in to mining rather than politics - an astute decision given the corruption allegations which have raged around Zuma’s reign

Sexwale was born in Orlando West, the son of a clerk at a local hospital. He left Orlando West High in 1973, just four years short of the Soweto Uprising which, infamously, saw school children shot by a minority Apartheid government still clinging to power.

A follower of Steve Biko’s black consciousness movement, he was a leader in the South African Student Movement before fleeing the country as so many struggle exiles did, to join Umkhonto we Sizwe, (“Spear of the Nation”) to fight the white minority government. He completed a Certificate in Business Studies during his time in Swaziland, a small independent nation almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.

He also spent time in the old Soviet Union, training with their military, specialising in engineering. But when Sexwale returned to South Africa, he was arrested and imprisoned for 18 years for terrorism and conspiracy to overthrow the National Party government.

During his 13 years on Robben Island - the “Alcatraz” off Cape Town which was reserved for freedom fighters - he studied for a B Com degree before his release in 1990 under the Groote Schuur Agreement. He is recognised as an expert in the African mining industry, particularly in the diamond sector.

Tokyo struck up a relationship with local para-legal Judy van Vuuren while he was behind bars - they married soon after he was released. The African National Congress beckoned and Sexwale took over the PWV province, previously Transvaal, now Gauteng, after the elections. In 1998 he left politics to forge a career as a businessman but he was drawn back when Mbeki was replaced by Zuma… only to leave again. That he is successful is beyond doubt. He is President of South Africa’s Russian and Japanese business forums and is Honorary Consul General of Finland.

But his football connections are marked mainly by a strong relationship with the now disgraced Sepp Blatter. Sexwale, through the build-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, was often pictured with Blatter and his side-kick Jerome Valcke, he was the hand-holder, the smiling face of Africa's first EVER World Cup.

Though Danny Jordaan, the SAFA president who now also doubles as the ANC’s Mayor of Port Elizabeth, has backed him for the FIFA job, neither have addressed the controversies which stir in the background. From his attempts to unseat Mbeki to his involvement in business deals in the north of the continent to his public rift with wife Judy, Sexwale is not quite the squeaky clean leader required by FIFA post-Blatter.

What was it Jordaan said when "approving" Sexwale's candidacy yesterday? "We've endorsed him unanimously because we are comfortable Tokyo's history, credibility, life experience will help resurrect the essential sport of the African continent, the ONLY sport played by all 54 nations on our continent"

Personally, I'd have gone for former Leeds United and Bafana Bafana icon Lucas Radebe if SAFA are going to back somebody for a top football job without an experience at SAFA. Radebe is squeaky-clean, he owns no $70m islands, he does not do business with questionable regimes up north.

Still, Tokyo's rivals for the hottest seat in football are hardly glowing paragons of virtue. Michel Platini, the former France midfielder, has the footballing credentials but is tainted by payments made to him by Blatter.

Another Frenchman, Jérôme Champagne, is former deputy general secretary of FIFA who has long dabbled in footballing politics while Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein is known only for his run against Blatter in May. A fourth candidate, David Nakhid, a former Trinidad & Tobago midfielder, is marked by his connections to Jack Warner’s controversial CONCACAF administration.

Sexwale says: "Issa Hayatou (the life-long CAF president and caretaker boss at FIFA until Blatter is unsuspended) has invited me to come to Cairo on October 28. I will put forward my proposals for reforms in FIFA. The mantle of president is heavy."

Still, with Liberia’s Musa Bility out of the running, Sexwale is sure to pull most, if not all, of Africa’s 54 votes, not bad in an electorate of 209.

And the German FA have gone public with their support. Platini is discredited and currently suspended, leaving many European nations looking for a mast to nail their colours too. Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bing Al-Khalifa may enter the race too, the Asia Football Confederation president may attract European votes too despite human rights issues.

But Sexwale was in jail with Madiba. He has a great name. He's so rich, corruption may not be worth the bother. Why not Sexwale?

SAFA's master-stroke: Lucas Radebe returns as Bafana team manager

Top Bloke: Lucas Radebe and me last year

LUCAS RADEBE is back. Seven years after his retirement from football, South Africa's most successful player returns to the game - as Bafana Bafana's new team manager.

Less than 48 hours after naming Moroka Swallows boss Gordon Igesund as the nation's 15th new coach, the South African Football Association produced their 43-year-old master-stroke.

With president Kirsten Nemetandani presiding and Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khosa prompting, former Buccaneer boss Igesund now finds himself with a bullet-proof protector in Radebe, the man who played 200 games for Leeds United from 1994-2005, winning 70 Bafana caps and helping to lift the 1996 AFCON crown.

The trick with Radebe is that the factions in SAFA - and in the PSL - cannot touch South Africa's answer to David "Golden Balls" Beckham.

While Igesund, sharp and to the point, may put a few noses out of joint even before his opening friendly against (gulp) Brazil in September, Radebe will be there to offer advice, motivate the squad and deflect criticism.

During the selection process for the new coach, Radebe dropped obvious hints about his future role, telling Football411: "Firstly, it was not a bad idea to sack Pitso Mosimane because we need new ideas for the team and I'm sure Pitso accepts that we needed a change because we were not getting the results.

“Secondly, I think it was a good idea to shortlist local coaches, because I don't think we need somebody from overseas. It is best to get someone with a better understanding of our football."

Tellingly, he added: "I think the new coach will need a big technical team to help him with the selection of players, a motivator because players need that and so on to make sure they've got all angles covered.

"It won't be a bad idea to involve former coaches such as Clive Barker, but the bottom line is they must put together a technical team that will cover basically everything."
Following Igesund's appointment, Radebe told kickoff.com: "Gordon has a great track record, we all have to support him. There are a lot of expectations, if things go wrong the public will be on his back.
"But Gordon showed at Swallows he can lead players, motivate them. We need a leader, we need confidence. He will bring that back to Bafana. We have to support him all the way."

SAFA remain coy on Radebe’s role – and the appointment of former Kaizer Chiefs stars Fani Madida and Doc Khumalo as assistant coaches. Chief Operations Officer Dennis Mumble said as the story grew around the football-speaking world: "We have no problem with speculation about those three, but it cannot be said that Safa has decided on them – that would be unfair to Gordon as he still has to discuss his preferences with us.”

Igesund himself told KickOff.com: "I still have to discuss this with Safa. I will tell them who I believe should be my assistants."
You only have to meet Lucas Valeriu Radebe (born 12 April 1969) to know the role he will play on his long-awaited return to the game. I met him with agent Glyn Binkin in 2010 at the Moses Madhiba Stadium just before the World Cup and again last year with Robert Marawa when I was working in Abu Dhabi at the Laureus Sports Awards (see picture).

Famous for his charitable works, he oozes charisma, makes women go weak at the knees and generally talks sense, footballing or otherwise.

Now 43, Radebe grew up in Diepkloof , not the poshest end of Soweto, before being “resettled” aged 15 in the so-called homeland of Bophuthatswana, home to Sun City and little else back then. One of 11 children, he played football to keep off the streets, beginning life as a goalkeeper.

As he developed, Radebe became a handy midfielder and started his professional career at Kaizer Chiefs. After a shooting incident and much haggling, he moved to Howard Wilkinson’s 1991 First Division champions with Philemon “Chippa” Masinga in 1994. Even then, the move was worth £250,000 (nearly R3million) to the Amakhosi.

George Graham, something of an expert on central defenders, transformed “The Chief” into one of the Premier League’s great centre-backs, while Masinga was sold, Radebe was transformed. The adoration in Yorkshire even led to the formation of popular music group Kaiser Chiefs, named by Leeds-loving musicians in honour of Radebe.

When I first twittered about Radebe’s return to the Bafana fold on Saturday, the Elland Road faithful immediately got in touch, eagerly trying to find out what their former idol is expected to do in his new role. He captained Leeds in 1998-99 and held the defence together under David O’Leary when the club enjoyed some of their most successful seasons in recent memory.

Radebe turned down Manchester United, Roma and AC Milan as Leeds, spending money like there was no tomorrow, challenged for domestic and European honours. Sir Alex Ferguson said at the time: “Every club needs a Lucas Radebe.”

Radebe has been an ambassador for FIFA’s SOS Children's Villages and received the FIFA Fair Play Award in December 2000 for his work on behalf of Africa’s impoverished.

A major mover in football’s anti-racism campaigns, he was awarded a Contribution to the Community Award by the Premier League in 2003 to celebrate their 10^th anniversary.

In 2004, he came 54th in a vote naming the Top 100 Great South Africans and is a great pal of golfer Tiger Woods, with whom he helps to raise funds for various children's causes.

It hasn’t all be plain sailing. Radebe’s wife Feziwe died of cancer in October 2008 and in December of the same year he needed treated for a heart complaint after collapsing while at the gym.

In April 2010 he won the PFA Merit Award, saying: “Football has played such a big part in lifting my community. I'm very proud.”

Previous Lucas Radebe blogs:

http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2010/05/in-just-24-hours-with-little-help-from.html

http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2011/02/laureus-sports-awards-in-sunny-abu.html

In just 24 hours, with a little help from Lucas Radebe, Durban destroys the World Cup doom mongers

There are days when this job is all worthwhile. The last 24 hours are highlighted by my picture today and in my latest video, posted from the 18th floor of the Elangeni Hotel overlooking the crashing Indian Ocean in tropical Durban. Here, you sweat in winter.

And in 24 hours, this seaside city has proved itself ready for the World Cup - and an Olympics at some stage in the future.

Don't stop reading, it's a real option. Last night I went with former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad (we met on Twitter, I do radio stuff with him, hopefully Supersport football during the World Cup) to watch Super 14 rugby.

There were 35,000 fans there to see the big grudge match, Durban's Sharks against Cape Town's title-chasing Stormers. And the Sharks, to roars which echoed across the golden beaches, won it 20-14.

The Stormers should still be able to reach the semi-finals but they'll need to beat the table-topping Pretoria Bulls first. If they don't, there's a chance they could play eachother in an all-South African semi - and that will have to be played in Soweto!

It's true. With Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld now deemed a World Cup stadium, the traditionally conservative Bulls fans live in the heartland of post-Apartheid Afrikanerdom. Now they have to go to the Super Stadium in Orlando. Traditionally a soccer stadium, it's a real sign of change in South Africa.

Football has always been the No1 game here. Now they know it! There's a famous old Boer song "We are marching to Pretoria", which will have to be changed to "We are marching to Soweto"... but Durban know they'll always have an option.

In essence, last night with the rugby journalists was about assessing the mood of the non-footballing media before the World Cup. And to my surprise, it's extremely positive.

This was also about tasting Durban's sporting facilities. As my video shows, the 55,000-capacity rugby stadium - once called Kings Park, now the sponsored Absa Stadium - is just across the road from the magnificent new 65,000-capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the World Cup.

Quite apart from the fact that the huge domed football stadium has been built with little fuss (and a Wembleyesque arch where people can ride a cable car and bungy jump - see the video!) what strikes me is what a great Olympic venue Durban will make.

Here, next to the Indian Ocean, it's never truly winter. And with Kings Park used for football and the Moses Mabhida as the main stadium, they've got a massive swimming pool complex just down the road, not to mention an athletics track and velodrome for cyclists.

About a mile away stands the Kingsmead Test cricket stadium for events like the Pentathlon, archery, softball and the like. And of course, in the harbour, there's room for the yachting events. It's a natural selection. The Olympic bid must come.

The real reason I'm here in Durban a month before the World Cup is Indaba 2010. South African tourism have flown me out for this vast tourism conference at the impressive Durban ICC, which could also house Olympic events.

Today we decamped to the Moses Mabhida Stadium for a "Global Media Face-off". That was an eye-opener. We had the ministers for tourism and airports - two very impressive women - plus Danny Jordaan, the local World Cup chief, and Jerome Valcke, the FIFA man on the spot.

Valcke, revealing impressive ticket sales, appears to be relishing what was initially a tough role before Africa's first World Cup.

He smoothly talked his way out of any difficult questions - including why FIFA will charge local vendors R25,000 to sell their cheap wares near the stadia - and a general air of optimism pervades an event which once looked improbable.

With Europe worried by the collapse of the Greek economy, South Africa appear ready to take the role of sports supernation. And Valcke confirmed: "We never considered taking the World Cup away from South Africa. There was no Plan B. On the heads of my children I promise you this."

And standing just down from him another impressive bloke. General Bheki Cele, head of police and the man assigned to keep England fans on their best behaviour.

I got to speak to him - I hate to name drop but he joined my conversation with local footballing God Lucas Radebe, formerly of Leeds (he's the guy they named the Kaiser Chiefs pop group after).

I wouldn't mess with Cele. He's been all over the world from India to England, Germany to Holland, talking to "football police". Amid all this talk about South African crime rates, he seems unfazed by the reputation of English football fans, warning: "We have powers. Depending on the crime we will issue a life-sentence or send them home if they step out of line. We are ready."

And indeed they are. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, like Soccer City near Soweto, added to the new airport at King Shaka, cannot be ignored.

The only problem? South Africa's ailing football team. When Radebe was playing in the 1990s, South Africa were African Nations Cup champions and they qualified for two World Cups.

Now they are the lowest ranked host nation in the history of the World Cup. If they'd been asked to qualify they would have failed dismally.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Radebe said to me: "We have Steven Pienaar, he's just been voted Everton's player of the year. And even if Benni McCarthy isn't fully fit, he can get the goals.

"I'd play our veteran Siyabonga Nomvete straight down the middle with McCarthy lying off him. And at the back, Aaron Mokoena has got an FA Cup final coming up next week for Portsmouth. We might be okay. We may get out of the group."

With Mexico, Uruguay and France also in Group A, that will be no mean feat. But Radebe, like all the locals, is getting behind Bafana Bafana.

And amid the plethora of negative publicity overseas, you can't help feeling this may just be a very special World Cup.