SAFA Tshwane is Changing its Name

The Regional Executive Committee of the region, under its mandate for the maintenance of the statutes, is proposing the new name of the regional association. This follows the resolution by SAFA National to have all its members and provinces adopt names other than SAFA. This is correct, especially for regions and LFAs. You cannot be a member of an organization and still use that organization’s name. Only entities may take the name of the parent body.

Gauteng has led the way by changing its name to the Gauteng Football Association. But we think they erred by taking up a flat name. We believe they needed to take a name that includes the level at which they operate, like the Gauteng Provincial Football Association (GPFA).

For SAFA Tshwane, the committee proposes the Tshwane Regional Football Association (TRFA). This name includes, in itself, an indication of the level at which Tshwane operates. This concept was correctly popularised by the current constitutional templates, which labeled grassroots-level associations as Local Football Associations (LFA). The acronyms PFA (Provincial Football Association), RFA (Regional Football Association), and LFA (Local Football Association) should indicate the levels of the football associations.

Once accepted by Congress, the name change will take effect, as will the relevant constitutional changes. But in the meantime, the Marketing Committee and the Office will work on the rebranding of the region using the new name, including picking new colors, which would need to be updated in the constitution.