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| Columns |
| SPORT ON |
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by
Gracian Tukula, 12 December 2003
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14:56:30
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Credibility at stake
If Fam’s new constitution is to be followed to the letter, the deadline for candidates to put their cards on the table was Friday. The jockeying in the last few days shows that there has been some considerable interest by those seeking to take charge of football affairs in the next four years.
I must say I have been impressed by the names that I have seen in the media, particularly those in the so-called shadow cabinet. I have always believed that the credibility of an organisation is reflected in the people that lead it. Even before anything, just the names and status of the people make you respect or dismiss an organisation.
The last few years were bad for football and all of us are to blame for diluting the significance of the establishment that is called football. We have reduced Fam to a level where anyone thinks they can lead it. Remember the resistance to the proposed requirement for a minimum qualification of MSCE? This must change.
I am reliably told that some members of the outgoing executive are also busy campaigning to remain in the executive, some of them seeking higher offices. Well, they are within their democratic rights to aspire for anything but for goodness’s sake, they should not be given a chance.
We know that, thanks to Fam, some of them are leading the sort of life they could only dream of a few years go and their interest in carrying on is based on the desire to maintain that life but their time is up. They don’t just lack the qualities befitting Fam executives, but they have also clearly demonstrated blatant incompetence.
In any case, the report from the National Audit Office is due to be released soon. Until its findings are known and the accused have been cleared of any wrongdoing by the country’s legal system, they should not be allowed to seek re-election. Some of them are very good friends of mine, but I will be the first to say they have embarrassed me and I want no more of it.
The soccer fraternity has a golden opportunity to redeem the reputation of the beautiful game, which has been savaged by a group of opportunists who had no ideas of making money for the association but knew just how to use it. Let us go for people we can proudly point at. We are talking of a national body.
And, lest I forget, let me welcome the birth of Sulom, the reincarnation of Sulam. The record will show that I campaigned for the birth of Sulam and was against the dissolution of Sulam which had sprinkles of politics all over. It’s good that reason has prevailed over emotion and I can only wish Henry Chibowa and his colleagues well.
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