Namibia part of the region backing Motsepe
It is inevitable that Namibia will end up voting for South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe in his quest to take the biggest job in African football.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe is standing for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) against incumbent Ahmad Ahmad.
Motsepe has been on the campaign trail for weeks, with his candidacy receiving a green light by world football governing body Fifa on Wednesday.
With Fifa's backing, it is now up to the members of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) region to cement his fate. Mauritania Football Associations president Ahmed Yahya, Ivory Coast's Jacques Anouma and Senegal Football Associations president Augustin Senghor are also in the running.
Strength in numbers
The Cosafa region has the biggest voting block with 14 member associations.
According to international media reports, some Cosafa executive members met on Wednesday and unanimously reolved to throw their weight behind the billionaire Mamelodi Sundowns owner to get the seat when voting takes place in March. Cosafa president, Phillip Chiyangwa also told international media that decision taken in 2017 was that the Zone should always support its own.
Namibian Sun asked the president of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Ranga Haikali, to share his views on whether Namibia stands with Motsepe. Haikali said there are other candidates vying for the position and that the NFA will have ample time to review and take an informed decision.
A local football pundit who refused to be named, said it is all about relationships. “We have close ties with Cosafa and the South African Football Association; the bulk of our player exports are within the Southern African Development Community.
If Motsepe can help support SuperSport to broadcast NFA games then he may get Namibia's vote among other things,” said the pundit.
He added that the vote is valuable and should count for something, thus benefiting the country at large.
*Additional info Caf
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe is standing for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) against incumbent Ahmad Ahmad.
Motsepe has been on the campaign trail for weeks, with his candidacy receiving a green light by world football governing body Fifa on Wednesday.
With Fifa's backing, it is now up to the members of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) region to cement his fate. Mauritania Football Associations president Ahmed Yahya, Ivory Coast's Jacques Anouma and Senegal Football Associations president Augustin Senghor are also in the running.
Strength in numbers
The Cosafa region has the biggest voting block with 14 member associations.
According to international media reports, some Cosafa executive members met on Wednesday and unanimously reolved to throw their weight behind the billionaire Mamelodi Sundowns owner to get the seat when voting takes place in March. Cosafa president, Phillip Chiyangwa also told international media that decision taken in 2017 was that the Zone should always support its own.
Namibian Sun asked the president of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Ranga Haikali, to share his views on whether Namibia stands with Motsepe. Haikali said there are other candidates vying for the position and that the NFA will have ample time to review and take an informed decision.
A local football pundit who refused to be named, said it is all about relationships. “We have close ties with Cosafa and the South African Football Association; the bulk of our player exports are within the Southern African Development Community.
If Motsepe can help support SuperSport to broadcast NFA games then he may get Namibia's vote among other things,” said the pundit.
He added that the vote is valuable and should count for something, thus benefiting the country at large.
*Additional info Caf
[email protected]
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