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The SAFA Awards are a microcosm of football in our country. They reflect domestic and international organisation of matches, and they are also recognition of excellence achieved through hard work, dedication and discipline on and off the field of play.

The South African Football Association as a custodian of football has a constitutional mandate to lead, administer and generally organise the beautiful game of football. It is then befitting that people who entertain us with their skills and display of character, are honoured in this fashion.

It is also encouraging to see a very strong acknowledgement of players, match officials and coaches from the ranks of development, because SAFA's primary role is the development of players, administrators, referees and coaches.

SAFA's mission statement depicts the Association as a very ambitious organisation. The Association has a vision to host major international events, and we congratulate SAFA for hosting a successful 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is upon us, it is one of the most important milestones in your 18 years of existence, and as government we will continue to support you in the interest of staging a successful World Cup for our people and our brothers and sisters in the African Continent.

“Becoming a leading football Nation in the World” is another vital aspect of the SAFA Mission Statement, and the second annual SAFA Awards should serve as a trajectory to achieving that objective. We conquered the Continent in 1996 and we qualified for two FIFA World Cups previously, so the mission is possible.

SAFA might be 18 years old this year, but football in South Africa dates back many years - back in 1910 South Africa was the first Non European member of FIFA, of course until the expulsion in 1976 because of Apartheid.

In 1957 South Africa joined hands with Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt to form the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and I am pleased that the SAFA Awards also take cognisance of historical milestones achieved by sport under difficult days of Apartheid.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the nominees and recipients of the Awards. This important acknowledgement of your contribution to football should inspire you further, and it should also inspire others to work hard so that we can have a robust but healthy competition in our favourite sport.