Motsepe gets it wrong

Patrice Motsepe’s financial power and his success at Mamelodi Sundowns were the undoubted magnates that convinced a regime-change hungry football family to give the wealthy South African the CAF top post. Motsepe’s predecessor, Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar had found himself tangled in allegations of corruption, barely four years after he clawed African football’s Goliath, Issah Hayatou.

Despite his ascendancy to power, with the promise of a balance in football power, Ahmad’s reign was largely underwhelming. Motsepe’s charisma and well-documented success in the business world provided a refreshing prospect, too appealing to resist. Although Motsepe’s path to power was not the most democratic, he was already an overwhelming favourite in a contest that was to feature challengers from the usual dominant West Africa. Motsepe entered into a deal with other candidates who dropped out of the contest like flies. It was hardly the most ideal or orderly manner to ‘win’ the elections.