New Nafa boss back on home ground

IT is a long way from Diepkloof in Soweto to the northern areas of Port Elizabeth. But 54-year-old Clive Kilian has made that journey and more.

The newly-elected president of the Northern Areas Football Association was brought up in Port Elizabeth and matriculated at Arcadia High, where SA Football Association chief executive officer Danny Jordaan was his history teacher.

Starting soccer as an U10 player with Dale United in Gelvandale, Kilian made his senior schools debut in 1975 as a 16year-old. He represented EP Senior Schools twice.

The no-nonsense centre back played for Park United throughout his career, except for a short stint with Blackpool in the SA Soccer Federation Professional League and, after unification, in the PSL.

A lifelong fan of Brazilian legend Pele, Kilian said the highlights of his career were playing against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as winning the 1995 Nafa Easter Tournament with Park United.

He was elected president of Nafa when Valentine Brink stepped down last month. Kilian said he would like to build a strong financial and administrative association, and to transfer the same level of administrative excellence to the clubs.

“When that is achieved, Nafa will have a succession of very competent leaders to take our development mandate forward.”

Kilian also plans to honour the forgotten legends in the northern areas.

“Our current crop of players have no idea of who former players like Donovan Reid, who was the most capped EP Soccer Board player, and Hennie Japtha, who was selected for the SA Soccer Federation team, are.”

-Mogan Segadavan