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An apology by the South African Football Association to their Ghanaian counterparts is a bid to ensure good relations with other federations, chief executive officer Robin Petersen has said. Ghana had made a bitter complaint to Safa after the women�s under-17 coach Gregory Mashilo alleged the Ghana team, which beat South Africa in the Women�s U-17 World Cup qualifiers earlier in the year, were over age. Petersen said he felt compelled to write an apology letter to the Ghana Football Association to keep up good relations with the west African nation. This follows criticism that South Africa should not be apologising when there have been many admissions over the years that widespread age cheating has been common place in countries from west Africa. Petersen wrote to the GFA: �The statement made by Mr. Mashilo is not only against the good spirit of friendship and fair play but it has also caused immense embarrassment for this association. �It is my sincere hope that the GFA will accept our apology and not allow the matter to strain our long standing friendly relations in any way.� Ghana accepted the spirit of the letter and have since sent their under-20 men�s team to play in the recent Cape Town eight-nation tournament.