Embattled FIFA decides
Mqondisi Dube | Friday February 26, 2016 16:55
The world soccer governing body holds a crucial election to choose Sepp Blatter’s successor amid damaging corruption claims which have seen the strongman and UEFA president, Michel Platini, banned from football activities for six years.
Sebego will cast his vote, probably for Asian Football Association president, Sheikh Salman, after Africa ditched its own, Tokyo Sexwale, who has been criticised for running a lukewarm campaign.
Sebego believes FIFA has the opportunity to put its house in order.
“The unfortunate events at FIFA have necessitated an urgent need for reforms. Actually, the most crucial part of the meeting, for some of us, is approval and codification of the proposed reforms.
As for the president, our wish is to elect a credible leader who will not only be transparent, with proven business acumen, but will also be able to drive implementation of the reforms,” he told Mmegi Sport.
Critically, Sebego said the new FIFA must be responsive to the needs of its members.
“The new FIFA must be responsive to the needs of its members, particularly the less privileged associations, push for more commercial partnerships and assist members to grow the quality of football in their respective territories,” he said before his departure on Wednesday.
Asked if there is hope that the incoming president will continue Blatter’s African legacy, he said: “It’s comforting to note that all the candidates placed the African agenda as part of their programme.
That on its own is assuring to Africa,” Sebego said.
Despite being accused of corruption, Blatter was lauded for his sympathetic stance towards Africa where he introduced a number of initiatives meant to develop the game; chiefly the Goal Projects.
Africa hosted its first ever World Cup during Blatter’s reign, which lasted 18 years. There are fears that the powerful UEFA group might sway the incoming president, despite Africa and other less privileged confederations having numerical advantage.
The candidates
Name: Prince Ali bin Al Hussein
Nationality: Jordanian
Age: 40
Background: Son of the former King of Jordan, who died in 1999, and half-brother of the current King. President of the Jordan Football Association
Highest office held in football: Vice president of FIFA representing Asia (2011 to 2015)
Name: Jerome Champagne
Nationality: French
Age: 57
Background: A former French diplomat, he moved into football working on the 1998 World Cup and spent 11 years working at FIFA under Sepp Blatter
Highest office held in football: FIFA director of international relations
Name: Tokyo Sexwale
Nationality: South African
Age: 62
Background: An anti-apartheid campaigner; he was imprisoned at Robben Island with Nelson Mandela for 13 years. He later became a government minister and a very successful businessman with interests in diamond and platinum mines.
Highest office held in football: Member of various FIFA committees, including the FIFA Committee on Racism and Discrimination.
Name: Gianni Infantino
Nationality: Swiss/Italian
Age: 45
Background: He’s a lawyer and sports administrator who joined UEFA in 2000 and rose through the ranks
Highest office held in football: UEFA general secretary.
Name: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
Nationality: Bahraini
Age: 50
Background: A member of Bahrain’s royal family; he has held a number of posts within the Bahrain Football Association, becoming its president in 2002, aged 36.
Highest office held in football: President of the Asian Football Confederation.