In parallel to his career in traditional leadership and legislative politics, Nonkonyana was active in soccer administration. He was regional president of Safa in the O. R. Tambo region until October 2010, when he withdrew his re-election bid amid a contest with challenger Felix Majeke; Majeke said that he would be appointed as honorary life president of the branch. Simultaneously, Nonkonyana was a longtime national vice-president of Safa. In that capacity, he chaired Safa's local organising committee ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
