Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
Five football administrators from southern Africa have exhibited their intentions to vie for FIFA and CAF posts. The five, Danny Jordaan of South Africa, Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, Cuthbert Dube of Zimbabwe, John Muinjo of Namibia and Adam Mthethwa of Swaziland will be vying for the vacant FIFA executive committee and CAF committee post in Sudan 2011.
They would be seeking to replace South African administrator Molefi Oliphant on February 23. Oliphant has said he would not be seeking re-election.
The vacant position is to be contested only by football administrators from the Southern African region who would have been nominated by their respective national football associations.
Sources privy to the goings within the FIFA and CAF corridors of power revealed that Jordaan and Bwalya, both respected figures in African football circles are the favorites to land the post.
“I would say that Jordaan has a better chance than anyone else to replace Oliphant. He was leader of the team that put up a World Cup that is being described as the best ever so this has really put him in good stead,” said the source. “He is now a respected football administrator and his reputation continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Bwalya, who is one of the continent’s most accomplished former football stars, also has a good chance,” reported the Zimbabwean Online.
The online publication reported further that although Zimbabwe is seen as one of the football powerhouses in the region, Dube’s candidature is likely to be tainted by the match fixing allegations that are being leveled against some officials at ZIFA.
FIFA has of late been heavily descending on corrupt African football officials and recently suspended four of its executives for various offences.
Nigeria’s Amos Adamu, Tunisian lawyer Slim Aloulou, FIFA referees’ committee member Amadou Diakate and Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana form part of a group of six football officials that have been banned by Fifa’s ethics committee for a number of breaches.
Most of the officials were banned for accepting bribes for votes while Bhamjee was banned for four years for selling World Cup tickets in Germany in 2006. “One cannot say with certainty that he (Cuthbert Dube) was involved in those allegations but as the current chairman of ZIFA, it certainly does not bode well for his FIFA and CAF aspirations.
“FIFA is frowning on corruption and their recent actions prove this. The rest of the candidates will be edged out by the fact that their countries are largely considered as lightweights in the region,” said the Zimbabwean.
Five football administrators from southern Africa have exhibited their intentions to vie for FIFA and CAF posts. The five, Danny Jordaan of South Africa, Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, Cuthbert Dube of Zimbabwe, John Muinjo of Namibia and Adam Mthethwa of Swaziland will be vying for the vacant FIFA executive committee and CAF committee post in Sudan 2011.
