Football and Politics (1)

The purists tell us that football and politics, or more appropriately, sport and politics, must never mix. But football is part of human endeavour, and like the rest of human endeavour, there must be some politics.For, if there is no politics, how do the various football organizations select their leaders, or appoint people into committees, […]

The purists tell us that football and politics, or more appropriately, sport and politics, must never mix. But football is part of human endeavour, and like the rest of human endeavour, there must be some politics.
For, if there is no politics, how do the various football organizations select their leaders, or appoint people into committees, or select ex-officio persons, or other officials. Selection is part of politics.
On Sunday, 10th March, the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football will hold with the purpose of electing persons into the CAF Executive Committee. With the Court of Arbitration for Sport having turned back the appeals of Mr. Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire, the esteemed Alhaji Issa Hayatou will retain his position as President without any sweat.
However, there are candidates vying for seats on the Executive Committee, which is a body of 14 persons (minus General Secretary, who does not have a vote) charged with running the game on the continent.
Apart from President Hayatou, there are Suketu Patel (Seychelles, 1st Vice President); Almamy Kabele Camara (Guinea, 2nd Vice President); Amadou Diakite (Mali, Member); Adoum Djibrine (Chad, Member);  Mohamed Raouraoua (Algeria, Member); Magdi Shams el Din (Sudan, Member); Tarek Bouchamaoui (Tunisia, Member); Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia, Member); Kwesi Nyantakyi (Ghana, Member); Constant Selemani Omari (DR Congo, Member); Leodegar Tenga (Tanzania, Member); Slim Aloulou (Tunisia, co-opted Member) and; Molefi Oliphant OIG (South Africa, co-opted Member).
Those who sit on the CAF Executive Committee as a result of their being members of the FIFA Executive Committee, but without voting right on the CAF body, are: Jacques Anouma (Cote d’Ivoire), Lydia Nsekera (Burundi) and Hani Aboo Rida (Egypt).
I am contesting for a seat from the West B zone because I believe that our dear country deserves a seat in this respected Committee and I have confidence that with the solid backing of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I would sail through.
It is unspeakable that on the body of those who speak for African football, and take the decisions, there is no Nigerian. We must look back longingly at the periods of late Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu.
After sweeping all before us to become the new champions of the African continent in the round leather game, it is apt that we also make in-roads into the political highway in order that Nigeria’s voice will begin to sound louder in the corridors of African football power. I am contesting because I believe that our country is too big to be silent on this August body, that our country deserves to be heard loud and clear and that you cannot be a champion and be unheard.
Presently, I am a member of the Players’ Status Committee of the world football-governing body, FIFA and also Vice President of the West B zone of the Confederation of African Football. I am also, happily, President of Nigeria Football Federation – champion of Africa. Politics is important in human life, so we must all play it at one time or the other. When your country is involved, it becomes pertinent that you play it well.
I want to use this platform to commend the Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, for getting the Federal Government to back my bid. It is a huge shot in the arm for anyone to know that his Government is behind in a campaign like this.
Politics was involved in the formation of the Confederation of African Football. i history, we are told that African officials attending the FIFA Congress in Lisbon, Portugal in June 1956 found time to discuss matters African and came to a resolve to hold another meeting in Sudan the following year, to draft Statutes and discuss the first edition of Africa Cup of Nations.
World football-governing body, FIFA, had voted to recognize Africa as a confederation, at the 1954 Congress in Berne, Switzerland, and this gave Africa the right to appoint a first Representative to the FIFA Executive Committee – Engr. Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem (Egypt).
As we speak, there are a number of Nigerians in CAF Standing Committees. Alhaji Sani Ahmed Toro is a member of the Organizing Committee for the African U-17 Championship; Chief Solomon Ogba is a member of the Organizing Committee for the African Futsal Championship; Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam is Vice Chairman of the Appeal Board; Mr. Mike Itemuagbor is a member of the Marketing Committee; Ms Aisha Falode is a member of the Media Committee; Chief Adegboye Onigbinde is a member of the Technical and Development Committee; Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba is member of the Organizing Committee for the African Youth Championship; Alhaji Sani Lulu is a member of the Organizing Committee for the Inter-Clubs and; Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya (rtd) is a member of the Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations.
I am also a member of the Organizing Committee for the African Nations Championship.
However, it is time for a Nigerian to be in the Executive Committee again. And I am respectfully counting on all Nigerians wherever they may be, whatever their influence to support this cause in the interest of Nigeria football.
NEXT WEEK: Football and Politics (2)