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| Kirsten Nemantandani |
Embattled South African Football Association (SAFA) boss, Kirsten Nematandani, is eager to clear his name in the match-fixing allegations leveled against the top echelon of the Association by FIFA.
Speaking in a live interview on a radio sports programmed monitored in Lagos on Wednesday, Nemantandani said,
"I have been cited in the report and indicted alongside my people in the office but I should in the interest of my good name go out there and I am certain that my name would be cleared.”
Meanwhile, Kenyan referee Samuel Langat who was also indicted in the FIFA report has refuted claims of match fixing in one of the matches he officiated in the 2010 World Cup involving hosts South Africa, according to Chinese press and Kenyan press.
Langat officiated a warm-up match between South Africa and Colombia which the former won 2-1.
The Kenyan dismissed accusations that he was in touch with convicted Singaporean fixer Wilson Perumal Raj, reports Xinhua.
"That game was not fixed and we officiated the match well since FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was watching. I don`t know why these things are being said now," Langat, a former FIFA referee, said Tuesday.
He added that no one from FIFA had contacted him about the game, among four matches under investigation.
"The World Cup was two years ago and as far as I`m concerned we did nothing wrong," the Kenyan added.
Langat was the referee in the match that also marked the official opening of Soccer City, the venue that hosted the 2010 World Cup final.
Three penalties decided the game that ended in favour of South Africa with Teko Modise and striker Katlego Mphela scoring for the hosts while Giovanni Moreno converted his kick Colombia.
Compatriot Elias Kuloba, who officiated alongside him as his assistant, declined to comment.
"It is only the federation that can speak on the issue since I work under them."
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