NFA scrutinises CAF candidates
NFA president Frans Mbidi expects a different manifesto from CAF presidential candidates than in previous elections.
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is undecided on which Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential candidate it will support.
It was announced last week that long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou was standing for re-election for four more years.
The CAF presidential and executive committee elections will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 16 March.
Elected back in 1988, the powerful CAF president will be contesting the position with Madagascar's Ahmad.
Namibia Football Association president Frans Mbidi says the association is still considering which candidate to back.
Speaking in an interview yesterday Mbidi said: “The names of the candidates just emerged last week and it is therefore a bit premature to decide which person we want as president.
“The important thing at the moment will be to receive both candidates' manifestos and study them.
“We will definitely back a candidate who comes up with a proposal which will benefit Namibia and the rest of Africa.”
Mbidi said incumbent CAF president Hayatou had done much for African football and deserved gratitude from the NFA. That fact would not influence the NFA to overlook the other candidate, though.
“Ahmad will not be written off yet because he might just come up with a promising election manifesto.
“As for Hayatou, we will love to see what new ideas he can come up with, which is different from what he has done over the years.
“Our position and decision will just be done the same way as we did at the FIFA presidential elections.
“We expect the manifestos to be mailed to us in the following weeks.
“I must announce that we will definitely want to get our local media involved as far as making a decision is concerned,” Mbidi said.
Mbidi is one of the candidates for the CAF southern zone executive committee election.
There are two vacancies, but one position will be reserved for a female candidate, while four male candidates will compete for the other vacancy.
The NFA president will stand against Danny Jordaan (South Africa), Rui Eduardo Da Costa (Angola) and Suketu Partel (Seychelles).
“I am very optimistic about getting the position because I did not just decide to contest for it, but I was asked to by many presidents around the world.
“This is just the same thing as when I was elected as Cosafa vice-president, given many officials suggested I run for the position.
“I think many people have seen some qualities in me and that is why they are always asking me to apply for such positions.
“This is one of the things which give me so much confidence ahead of the Addis Ababa elections,” he said.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
It was announced last week that long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou was standing for re-election for four more years.
The CAF presidential and executive committee elections will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 16 March.
Elected back in 1988, the powerful CAF president will be contesting the position with Madagascar's Ahmad.
Namibia Football Association president Frans Mbidi says the association is still considering which candidate to back.
Speaking in an interview yesterday Mbidi said: “The names of the candidates just emerged last week and it is therefore a bit premature to decide which person we want as president.
“The important thing at the moment will be to receive both candidates' manifestos and study them.
“We will definitely back a candidate who comes up with a proposal which will benefit Namibia and the rest of Africa.”
Mbidi said incumbent CAF president Hayatou had done much for African football and deserved gratitude from the NFA. That fact would not influence the NFA to overlook the other candidate, though.
“Ahmad will not be written off yet because he might just come up with a promising election manifesto.
“As for Hayatou, we will love to see what new ideas he can come up with, which is different from what he has done over the years.
“Our position and decision will just be done the same way as we did at the FIFA presidential elections.
“We expect the manifestos to be mailed to us in the following weeks.
“I must announce that we will definitely want to get our local media involved as far as making a decision is concerned,” Mbidi said.
Mbidi is one of the candidates for the CAF southern zone executive committee election.
There are two vacancies, but one position will be reserved for a female candidate, while four male candidates will compete for the other vacancy.
The NFA president will stand against Danny Jordaan (South Africa), Rui Eduardo Da Costa (Angola) and Suketu Partel (Seychelles).
“I am very optimistic about getting the position because I did not just decide to contest for it, but I was asked to by many presidents around the world.
“This is just the same thing as when I was elected as Cosafa vice-president, given many officials suggested I run for the position.
“I think many people have seen some qualities in me and that is why they are always asking me to apply for such positions.
“This is one of the things which give me so much confidence ahead of the Addis Ababa elections,” he said.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article