Motsepe’s CAF campaign gains momentum
CONFEDERATION of African
Football (CAF) presidential candidate Patrice Motsepe says top of his priority list, if he is elected, is to build strong relations between the continental soccer controlling body and football associations.
Late last year, the South African Football Association, Nigerian Football Federation and the
Botswana Football Association joined forces and nominated Motsepe as their preferred candidate to run for the hot seat on the continent.
Motsepe, though, hadn’t been part of the African football administration in the past, except for his current role as Mamelodi Sundowns owner.
But he accepted the request, agreeing to run for presidency during the elections on March 12 in Morocco.
Since that announcement, Motsepe and Safa president Danny Jordaan have been working around the clock to ensure they run a winning campaign, travelling across the continent and world to engage with various presidents of football associations.
On those trips, some of which were attended by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Motsepe met one of his challengers, Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma. They also come up against Mauritania’s Ahmad Yahya and Senegal’s Augustin Senghor.
“We’ve spent a lot of time travelling all over the continent because it was important for me to meet with our presidents in various associations. I spent some time hearing from them about the challenges and opportunities, and what can we do to improve,” Motsepe said.
Holding his first public manifesto at the Sandton Convention Centre yesterday, when he was supported by representatives from various associations from the continent and local governance, Motsepe cut a positive figure about his chances.
“There is no place for grudges and animosities with people that we don’t have good relations with,” said Motsepe.
“I have no doubt that if I am honoured and privileged to be elected as the president, we'll be able to work together: Firstly, with the presidency of Africa, which I’m accountable to, then with each and every president of an association, including the ones that wouldn’t have voted for me.
“We’ll be held accountable to the continent and other countries outside. And, of course, I will work with Fifa and its president Gianni Infantino.”
Should Motsepe win the election, he'll have to abandon his seat as Sundowns president.
But he stressed that he'd leave that post in the capable hands of his son and Rejoice Simelane, who is listed as one of the directors at Sundowns.
CAF has been in turmoil in the last few years after current president Ahmad Ahmad was found guilty of violating Fifa’s code of ethics. He was suspended for five years before being temporarily reinstated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) a few weeks ago.
Whether Ahmad will run for president will be decided by CAS on Tuesday. With CAF headquarters based in Cairo, north Africans – particularly Moroccans – have been reported to run African football like their personal fiefdom.
Jordaan, though, disputed those reports, saying: “That's not true. That can’t happen in an organisation. There are 54 countries. Each has a vote that is valid whether they want to host an event. And then a democratic decision is taken.”
To support Motsepe’s campaign, Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) president Phillip Chiyangwa said they would ensure that Motsepe’s bid is a success.