Governing Bodies
Motsepe and the challenge of a second CAF cap
BY MITCHELL OBI
As we say in our local parlance jungle don mature…the tiger needs to show its tigritude..Away with the lukewarm comportment of shying from entering the trench.
It was no surprise to see Dr Patrice Motsepe throw his hat into the ring for a second term as CAF President. He has shown good courage of a leader sure of his ability and capacity to seek reaffirmation of his performance. One good term deserves another and some will add that even failure deserves a repeat as it was in our early school days.
The first time he got the nod as CAF President came via acclamation. The coast was made clear for him with the multiple flightn shuttles of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, his principal sponsor. Major contenders had to roll back their posters and swallow the pill of consensus and compromise. It was not easy even as they got compensated to stay within the power corridor to bid their time. That time now seems a bridge too far with Motsepe stealing the thunder of declaring his candidacy in a brave posturing to anticipate any pretender. Infact, the early pretension of the Lion from Yaounde appears to have fizzled out with the sword of damocles dangling before his troubled body of iniquities. Now he needs to check the combustive home front in Yaounde to dare the Sundown Lion. African politics knows how to silence its loudest sons . And lessons remain to be learnt.
One of such lessons is the creeping style of Motsepe which tend to suggest a certain nonchalance in holding office. A billionaire of note, he laughs at the thought of anyone contemplating his quest for power at football’s peak spot in the continent. Yet anyone who has keenly followed his stewardship as CAF President and appreciated his deep investment in it must realise the overriding joy and acquired clout piling up for another enterprise. Motsepe needs the cream from football to sweeten and smoothen his path to political heights in his homeland. It is so typical of those who make toys of bank notes. And emblazoning his name in the minds of passionate football followers in the continent should be a sure step to gain political mileage where it matters. When I see Motsepe’s coloured passion for the game I am forcibly reminded of Nigeria’s MKO Abiola of blessed memory. Abiola was indeed the Pillar of Sports in Africa and he effectively used the vehicle of football to catalyse a rewarding quest for presidential power in Nigeria.
So what do we make of Motsepe’s drive to secure a second mandate? Some have evoked the Ides of March and some have painted the picture of a reluctant candidate.
But the big question is whether Motsepe has done enough to be re-elected. He has gingerly built his style and shifted from the early painting of a stooge of the Zurich Czar.
He has closed the thought of those who think of leadership as a looting window and sprayed a dose of integrity and viability into the continental football body.
A critical assessment and appraisal of his four years may come later. My thrust here is simply an appreciation of the courage to open the gates for next year’s presidential election. Will he go back to his seat unopposed? Is he being pushed into the trench with covering fire from those who are content with the status quo?
One thing is sure. football power is an aphrodisiac. One craves for it like licking bonbons.
Inside Motsepe is the heart of a man enamoured of the charm of CAF President and I dare say a third term will not be a far cry. A miner keeps digging even when he finds gold.
Dr. Mitchell Obi is the immediate past president of AIPS-Africa.
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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