Daniel Alexander Jordaan

Daniel Alexander Jordaan, is currently the Vice President of the South African Football Association and recently Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, life’s history is enriched with a variety of dynamic paths that eventually earned him the position at the top of the World’s most prestigious international sporting event.

Popularly known as Danny, he has over the years been a Senior Lecturer, Politician, Sports Administrator, Businessman and a Political activist in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He was also an active sportsperson participating in various sport including soccer, cricket and hockey.

ACADEMIC
He studied at the University of Western Cape in Cape Town, and the University of South Africa in Pretoria completing a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma in Higher Education,  Honours Degrees, and was recently honoured with a Degree Doctor of Administration (D ADMIN) (HONORIS CAUSA) from the University of South Africa.  He was further honoured with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the Nelson Mandela University (HONORIS CAUSA), as well as, a Doctor of Philosophy from his alma mater, University of the Western Cape.

POLITICS
He joined the South African Student Organization (SASO), and the South African Black Students Intervarsity Council (SABIC) where he served as a member of the National Council. SASO was a black student movement led by Steve Biko in the 1970’s.

After completing his studies he returned to Eastern Cape to join the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the South African Council on Sport (SACOS), both bodies being pivotal in the national struggle against apartheid. He became the Vice President of SACOS in the Eastern Cape whilst serving as the President of the Eastern Province Soccer Board.

In 1984 he became the Deputy President of the South African Soccer Federation. These organizations pursued the ideals of
1. A single non–racial football organization;                                   
2. A non- racial democratic SOUTH AFRICA (an end to Apartheid).     

In pursuit of these goals he travelled to Lusaka, Zambia (1989) as part of a delegation of the NATIONAL SPORTS CONGRESS and the SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER FEDERATION where he presented a document on the creation of a single unified South African Football body as part of the process of establishing a Unified South African Nation.  The then banned ANC Leadership included the current President Thabo Mbeki, the late Steve Tshwete later Minister of Sport, Pallo Jordan, Barbara Masekela. In 1990 he also became the president of the ANC in the Port Elizabeth North area.

In 1994 he served as a member of parliament (National Assembly) under President Nelson Mandela.  During this period Danny served as a member of the Department of Trade & Industries Delegation for the South Africa – European Union Trade Agreement. He also served on the presidential task team to deal with the transfer of diplomatic recognition from Taiwan (a partner of apartheid South Africa) to the People’s Republic of China (Beijing).

FOOTBALL
In July 1991 he presented South Africa’s case for re-admission to the CAF delegation in Johannesburg South Africa as the Acting President of South African Football.  The CAF Delegation was led President Mr Issa Hayatou. Later in 1991, he was elected to serve as Vice President of SAFA. 
In 1997 he was appointed as Chief Executive of the South Africa FA and in 1998 he was seconded to serve as the Chief Executive of the 2006 FIFA World Cup South Africa Bid.

In September 2000 Danny Jordaan returned to the post of Chief Executive of the South African FA until 2001.  In December 2001 he was again seconded to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Bid South Africa. 

The   COMMERCIALIZATION of South African football was his key responsibility as CEO and in this area he helped to transform the economy of South African Football raising the revenue from 3, 2 million USD to 35 million USD. He introduced a financial assistance programme as well as, providing transport in the form of busses and cars for the benefit of the regions of the South African Football Association.

As part of the international program he arranged various international matches including: contract negotiations, commercial, broadcasting and event management related matters which delivered the following (senior national men’s teams) international matches in South Africa:

1997         Argentina, Netherlands
1998         Brazil
1998         FIFA World Cup France
1999         FIFA World XI vs France – Nelson Mandela Farewell Match
2003         England, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago
2004         Nigeria

Danny Jordaan delivered various papers at numerous international conferences dealing with the global economy, the Football economy, marketing, African Football, as well as, racism in Football. He has also served as a venue director at various FIFA events i.e. World Youth Championship, Confederations Cup and the Senior World Cup.  He researched and analysed the 1994 FIFA World CupTM USA & 1998 FIFA World Cup FranceTM in preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Bid.  The South African Bid was ranked equal to the German World Cup Bid.

South Africa eventually lost 12 to 11 in July 2000.
He served in various capacities in relation to the FIFA World Cup – 1994 – World Cup USA – investigate, and research of the FIFA requirements and demands of the World Cup.