Bafana legend Lucas Radebe turns up the heat on underperforming SAFA leadership

Legendary former Bafana Bafana defender Lucas Radebe has called for a major change in football administrative leadership with the looming South African Football Association (SAFA) elective congress.

Ria Ledwaba will be challenging Danny Jordaan for the SAFA presidency next month, a position Radebe was eager to attain four years ago before having to withdraw.

In 2018, Radebe was a fan favourite in the race to dethrone Jordaan, but his lack of administrative experience in SAFA's structures proved detrimental.

Jordaan will have served nine years as president in September, and his time as head honcho has come under severe scrutiny by South Africans.

Radebe wants change and believes footballers must have a say when it comes to the game, including administrative issues.

"I still believe and strongly believe, and I will always say that change is needed. Change is good in order for football to progress," Radebe said, as quoted by KickOff.

"In order for football to be at a level where we can compete, not just compete but be consistent in competing, be consistent in developing, be consistent in achieving," said Radebe.

"I think we've got to look to who is in leadership, to who [is] in the power running the game, and I believe footballers have to have a conversation on the future of the game.

"Especially in the country where [there] is worrying at the moment, because I mean what we see and what we know about Bafana Bafana or what we know about football in the country.

"Yes, we have development academies, we have got development but do you see anything developing? Why we don't have players overseas?" he added.