National Orders 2011.indd 1 4/21/11 2:00:52 PM - The Presidency

Irvin Khoza (1948 – )
THE ORDER OF IKHAMANGA IN GOLD
For his excellent contribution to and dedication in helping South Africa obtain the right to
host the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM , and for ensuring that the tournament became a success as
chairperson of the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM Organising Committee.
Dr Irvin Khoza was born on 27 January 1948 in Alexandra Township. Dr Khoza is a former student at South Africa’s famous Fort Hare
University but did not complete his degree as he was allegedly expelled for anti-apartheid activities.
A highly experienced soccer administrator, Dr Khoza is the chairperson of Orlando Pirates Football Club, one of South Africa’s biggest
and famous football clubs, formed in 1937. In 1980, Dr Khoza was appointed as secretary of Orlando Pirates F.C. He seldom visits the
Orlando Pirates dressing room, but he always does when his team plays against their long-time arch rivals, Kaizer Chiefs.
His team Orlando Pirates is the only South African team to have won the prestigious and the most prized soccer tournament in the
African continent, the now African Champions League Cup, when Pirates defeated Asec Mimosa of Ivory Coast in 1995. Orlando
Pirates is currently the only football club in the southern hemisphere that has ever won the African Champions trophy.
Dr Khoza is also chairperson of the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) and was also a vice-president of the South African
Football Association (Safa). As the chairperson of the PSL, he was instrumental in securing sponsors of the league such as the Absa
Group Limited.
He was also the chairperson of the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM Organising Committee South Africa from 2004 to 2010, which was tasked
with, among other things, to ensure that South Africa adheres to the promises made to FIFA with regard to hosting a successful 2010
FIFA World Cup TM . Khoza served as the chairperson of South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup TM bid team, which secured the right to host
the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM in South Africa.
In 2004, he was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Zululand. The award was also in recognition
of his involvement in sports development, following his contribution to help South Africa win the right to host the world’s largest
sporting event in 2010.
In March 2009, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) honoured him with an inauguration as the newly appointed Honorary
Colonel of Logistical Division of the SANDF.
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