“Leave when the applause is louder” is the popular phrase that takes the centre stage especially when a regime falls after long years at the helm.
However, longevity has equally proved to be a catalyst for a successful sports administration in the last decade across Africa and the world.
Great men, popular administration and regimes have crushed for what many will term as “overstaying their welcome” in office yet some of those have fashioned out developmental programmes that are benefiting the sporting masses.
Not to annoy readers with winding sentences but there are countless examples to cite of long serving leadership that have proved to be a success regardless of their collapse.
We shall start from Africa football governing body, CAF where former Cameroon athlete, Issa Hayatou spent 29 years in office before his eventual exit in 2017.
He might not be or have been several people’s favourite but he certainly brought stability to the Confederation of Africa Football. During his tenure.
Until current CAF president, Patrice Motsepe’s ascension to the throne, the federation struggled with administrative issues with former leader, Ahmad Ahmad being shown the exit.
In addition to that, the world can see the works of erstwhile FIFA president, Joseph Sepp Blatter – a man who spent 17 years in office before falling into alleged financial corruption.
Blatter succeeded at FIFA by increasing the influence of numerous African and Asian countries in world football through the expansion of participating teams in various FIFA tournaments.
The awarding of Africa’s first World Cup under Blatter opened the continent’s eyes to real football times when the globe converged in the Mzansiland of South Africa.
Furthermore, Ghana football history can never be written without the inclusion of former FA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi regardless of alleged corruption in the Anas Expose.
He spent 13 years in office with his tenure qualifying Ghana to its first FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006 with subsequent back-to-back appearances in South Africa and Brazil in 2010 and 2014.
Under Kwesi Nyantakyi’s reign, Ghana swept the board in continental and world football at the U-20 level when glories were chalked in the WAFU Tournament in Nigeria, AFCON in Rwanda before sweeping Brazil aside to claim Ghana and Africa’s first trophy.
His positions at CAF and FIFA were numerous – WAFU ZONE B president, FIFA Associate Committee member, London 2012 Olympic football organizer, FIFA Council member and Vice President of CAF.
There are two latest kids on the African football block and one of them who has successfully changed the face of football is Morocco’s FA president, Fouzi Lekjaa.
His nine years in office might be short and eventual but has managed to reshape Moroccan football with a supersonic speed.
Morocco’s senior national team finished 4th at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, surpassing the feats chalked by Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana’s quarter final place finishes at the mundial.
Continental glories include, two straight Championship for Africa Nations trophies in 2018 and 2020.
The other kid on the show is Senegal FA capo, Augustine Senghor, a politician who metamorphosed into a football administrator.
His ascension to the Senegal FA presidency in 2009 has birthed numerous continental silverwares despite initial setbacks.
A 14-year journey has brought home an AFCON trophy, won in 2021 with their long serving coach and ex-national captain, Aliou Cisse.
Senegal brushed all nations aside to claim the 2022 Championship for Africa Nations and CAF U-20 trophies after they had stamped their authority for the fourth straight times at the sea shore with the AFCON Beach Soccer gong in 2022.
They are one time WAFU Nations champions from the 2019 edition where they defeated Ghana on home soil to win it.
One would realized that, the least number of years spent in office among the top football personalities mentioned above is nine years and that is Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa.
Fouzi Lekjaa’s level of changing Morocco’s football was swift because of proper financing as he doubles as the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, responsible for the budget.
Moreover Morocco’s leader, King Mohammed VI’s 24-year rule has been a huge recipe for sports development due to his interest.
In all these, are we good to say that just one tenure will not be enough to develop football and for that matter current Ghana FA president, Kurt Okraku should be re-elected come August 2024?
Source: Muftaw Adamu|Africa-foot.com|
