Abdelrahman Sir Elkhtim is the new Sudan Football Association president after beating the incumbent Muatasim Gaffar in yesterday’s(Sunday 30th April 2017) election.
Elkhtim told Soka25east.com that his election ushers in a new dawn for the federation dogged by allegations of corruption.
“Goodbye to corruption in Sudanese football. We are welcoming a new era. It is a historic day,” Elkhtim said.
The election went ahead despite the Bureau of the FIFA Council extending the whole exercise until 30 October 2017 to give adequate room for organization of the elective general assembly.
SFA had sought the extension – arguing there were cases of interference in the election process contrary to new FIFA – approved SFA statutes.
In a letter to the SFA’s Secretary General Magdi Shams Eldin dated 28th April, FIFA’s Secretary General Fatma Samoura relayed the Council’s decision.
“The Bureau of the Council decided on the 28 April 2017 to give the SFA until 30 October 2017 to organize elections based on new FIFA-approved SFA statutes; otherwise the SFA shall be automatically suspended with immediate effect until elections are held.
“FIFA/CAF mission would be sent to Sudan in June 2017 to evaluate the current situation,” the letter reads.
Elkhtim on the other hand holds the SFA move to push back the elections through FIFA was out of fear of the incumbent losing the election.
“Mutassim Gaffar and Osama Ataa El Manan are in denial because they tried to stop the election from happening but it proceeded. Thanks to God Sudan FA have a new president,” Elkhtim said.
Gaffar was also the chairman of the floundering CECAFA, the regional football body for Central and East Africa.
The body has hardly held its championships in the past four years under his watch, and there have been heightened efforts to revamp the oldest regional organization in Africa.
