Sports minister Zizi Kodwa has denied reports that David Teeger was stripped of the SA U19 captaincy due to government pressure on CSA.

The 19-year-old was on Friday “relieved” of the role by CSA ahead of the U19 World Cup in South Africa for “safety” reasons, relating to pro-Israel comments he made when receiving the Rising Star of the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards in November.

According to Rapport newspaper, CSA asked Teeger to voluntarily relinquish the captaincy earlier in the week. He refused.

This came after sports minister Zizi Kodwa had addressed the team on Monday and appeared to talk about Teeger’s situation without naming him.

However, Kodwa has denied government involvement in the matter.

“The minister noted the statement by CSA on the South African U19 team captaincy,” Kodwa told News24. “The minister does not interfere with the selection of national teams and captaincy.

“We allow federations and associations to run sport independently.”

MORE: Politics cost Teegar SA U19 captaincy

News24 also reported that CSA’s top brass is set to meet the South African Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) coalition and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) to provide clarity on how the decision to relieve Teeger of the captaincy was arrived at.

ALSO: ‘Peaceful protest’ set for U19 World Cup opener

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images