South African Billionaire Patrice Motsepe has taken the football world by storm after announcing his bid to run for the presidency of the Confederation for African Football (CAF) at the forth coming elective general assembly in March, 2021.

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) recently endorsed Motsepe’s CAF Presidency bid.

At a meeting of COSAFA Executive Committee on 27 January 2021, it was unanimously resolved that Dr Patrice Motsepe is the only candidate endorsed by the 14-member regional body to run for the CAF Presidency in March this year.

But many have questioned Motsepe’s pedigree and his knowledge of football. Many say he is not a football man is not the right man to lead CAF.

But CAF does not need a man of football at the moment. It needs a man with business influence to make the organization viable again.

The continental governing body is currently embroiled in many corruption scandals that have caused many to lose faith in it’s leadership.

After a series of scandals from the current CAF leadership, it would represent a fresh start with Motsepe at the helm.

It almost certainly looks like Africa’s first black billionaire is on course one of the largest football Confederations in World Football.

Many say Motsepe is out of his depth and doesn’t have the experience in Football Administration.

Motsepe is a great man of great standing in the business world having invested in more than 31 countries in Africa.

He has repeatedly invested in companies that were supposed to gain significantly in value – and rose to become Africa’s first black billionaire. In the meantime he describes himself as a philanthropist, promoting his image. He is also well connected in politics; the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa is his brother-in-law.

Contrary to the notion, Motsepe has the pedigree to transform CAF almost instantly. It will take a long time to repair the image of CAF but if Motsepe is elected to the top of Africa, the image would be restored almost immediately because he comes to football with a clean slate.

Unlike his rivals in the CAF Presidency race, Motsepe has not interest in money because he already has it. His main goal will be to apply his investment skill in football just like he has in many top performing companies around the world.

The 58-year-old wants to be elected President of the African Football Federation (CAF) on March 12 in Rabat. He would then be in charge of the continent’s 54 national associations and, in one fell swoop, would be one of the most powerful football officials in the world.

Motsepe’s appointment could be an opportunity for the crisis-ridden CAF. Incidents of corruption increased under the banned ex-President Ahmad Ahmad. The Madagascan favored himself and his friends, including buying cars at the association’s expense. Some observers cautiously hope that a billionaire would have less compelling reasons to get rich. As a man in business, he might also be most likely to be able to attract sponsors, which is no easy task because Ahmad has seriously damaged the CAF’s image.

Motsepe would go into a minefield at the top of the CAF. It is unclear with what intention he is prepared to risk his previously good reputation as a businessman. At least in public, the billionaire has not yet made a clear statement.

But one thing is certain, Motsepe is the right man to to restore CAF’s battered image.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

Football Journalist | TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Photographer | Media Officer - Kabwe Warriors FC | Graphic Designer | Videographer