Politics and fierce rivalry goes hand in hand, be it in football or in geopolitics. This is why Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t engage in it, because enmity holds no place in Christianity.
As an African football aficionado let me shoulder this topic herein. So many references I would give to back my assertion.
If you are contending the seat of the country’s football association, you are considered as the enemy by team incumbent and no stone will be left unturned to tarnish your name.
And if the incumbent is no longer in good standing with the government of the day, some dirty tricks will be played to get them out of the office.
Flashback to one year or so, football on the pitch in Zambia was overshadowed by politics in the build up to the FAZ Presidential polls.
The Incumbent Kalusha Bwalya and team threw as much mud as possible to the wishful, by then Andrew Kamanga. Social media was the battlefield as people like Erick Mwanza were hellbent to undermine Kamanga, that, he was not fit.
However, the seismic took place at Moba hotel, when the returning officer announced: “By the power vested in me, I now declare Andrew Ndanga Kamanga as the new FAZ President.” Kalusha Bwalya had been ousted by the underdog.
Andrew Kamanga at Moba hotel on the night of his elevation to the role of FAZ President | Courtesy Image |
On CAF level, the flight has been under the control of Issa Hayatou since 1988 until this year in March. In his 29 year of ruling African football with an iron fist, Hayatou had only faced opposition twice and if you dare challenge him, your ambitiousness can never see the light of the day.
Actually, when the Malagasy Football Association President, Ahmad Ahmad announced the decision to throw his hat in the race to CAF President, everyone who backed him was living in fear.
In fact the small Island nation immediately felt the wrath of Hayatou when they were stripped of their rights to host the 2017 U-17 Africa Cup of the Nations. And for Ahmad’s campaign manager, Phillip Chiyangwa, he was receiving threatening letters over and over.
Ahmad Ahmad with his pals, Isha Johansen of Sera Leone and Danny Jordan of SAFA (In front) at the 2016 FIFA Congress high to announcing his decision to run as CAF President | Courtesy Image |
CAF even opened a disciplinary case against Chiyangwa for organizing a birthday bash to also celebrate his elevation to the role of Cosafa President. At this party, the Zimbabwean business Gulu used his personal funds to jet in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other African FA Presidents; It was believed that the rationale behind this party was to plot Hayatou’s downfall.
Letter of Invitation to Dr Philip Chiyangwa’s birthday bash.
In Sera Leone, the guns have been brazing as the SLFA leader, Isha Johnsen’s term expired on Thursday. The Stakeholders have been demanding that, the only woman’s FA leader in Africa must announce the date of the Congress.
However, FIFA’s African senior manager, Veron Omba has said that, the SLFL Congress can’t be scheduled without the world governing body sending it’s Taskforce led by Liberian Football Association President Musa Bility, to conduct an integrity check for every candidate who is contesting.
In Uganda, the incumbent, Moses Magogo is likely to go unopposed at the forthcoming FUFA Presidential polls. The opposition and the team Magogo have been at loggerheads in the build up.
In Tanzania, TFF President Jemal Malinzi is currently in custody, for being accused of a non bailable case of embezzling FA’s funds and other crimes.
This has deprived Malinzi to file in his nomination papers to defend his seat at the forthcoming TFF Presidential elections.
In Nigeria, we know how Chris Giwa has persisted with court battles against the NFF President Amaju Pinnick.
Indeed, the Rumble to power in African Football justifies the say POLITICS IS A DIRTY GAME. It’s a matter of life and death and all the tactics are employed, including dirty tricks.
