Pretoria - The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced that Lesley Sedibe, will take over as the new SAFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
This follows the unexpected resignation of Raymond Hack on Wednesday.
SAFA made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday.
Sedibe, the former legal manager of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee (LOC), said the previous leadership must be given credit for the good job it had done during tenure.
However, he said this was a new chapter for the association.
Youth and rural development would remain a foremost priority under Sedibe's leadership.
"Development of football among the youth ranks and in rural areas will be the first in the list of priorities," he said, adding that there was a great need to improve the development of football in the country.
Sedibe said Bafana Bafana's preparations ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup would also remain a priority, calling on all South Africans to rally behind the national team to ensure that it delivered good results during the highly anticipated tournament.
"As the country we need to support our national team and not forget to be a hospitable host. As we support Bafana Bafana we have to equally support other African teams," he said.
He is determined to strengthen the relationship with all stakeholders in a bid to make the country's football fraternity the best in the continent, including government.
SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani described Sedibe as a hard worker and an experienced candidate for the position.
He said he had been part of the country's football fraternity for a long time and had served three years as the LOC's legal manager.
"Sedibe is well qualified person for this job and we believe that he will lead us forward in achieving the association's goals. He is a man who has worked closely with many of our stakeholders," said Nematandani.
Meanwhile, Hack will continue with his other football commitments and has said that he will be available when the association needs him. His contract was due to end after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
