'I love Donald Trump': Gayton McKenzie fired up for USA World Cup
Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, expresses excitement for the Fifa World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, while also voicing support for Donald Trump and addressing concerns over Bafana Bafana’s World Cup blunder during qualification. File pic.
Image: File
Fresh off Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the Fifa World Cup next year, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie clearly can’t wait to get on a plane to the quadrennial showpiece.
The tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
McKenzie was one of the first VIPs on the pitch last week at Mbombela Stadium after Bafana booked their ticket to the World Cup. He was seen celebrating wildly in front of a TV camera moments after the final whistle.
His passion seems to also extend to US President Donald Trump.
McKenzie’s Support for Donald Trump
“I love Donald Trump. He is a president of peace… I love that! I have no problem with him. I’m only going there for the football. Both he and our president support peace. It will be a good World Cup for everyone,” McKenzie told SportsBoom.co.za.
McKenzie has also been vocal about the Teboho Mokoena blunder that nearly cost Bafana their place at the World Cup.
Though his intentions were good, Fifa strictly prohibits government interference in the country’s footballing body (Safa), which can lead to a ban from international football.
In fact, McKenzie wrote a letter to Fifa last week to find out answers about the way in which Bafana were docked points in their qualifying campaign.
That came after Safa president Danny Jordaan said the matter was already closed.
That means McKenzie would have been treading on thin ice, and it would probably be best he did not pursue the matter any further with Fifa unless he wants to risk Bafana being banned.