|
In a dramatic development, former sports minister Moses Dossi has come out of his shell and has joined the race for Fam presidency scheduled for November 13, taking the tally of contestants to seven.
Dossi, who served as sports minister in former president Bakili Muluzi’s government for over five years before being left out in the cold last year, said he has dubbed his campaign for the hot seat as ‘operation restore image and confidence.’
“I have got the show on the road and I am not easing down a gear. I was approached by several members of the soccer fraternity, some of them prominent figures to consider vying for the post.
“And after wide consultations and huge amount of thought, I have decided to take up the challenge,” said the ever upbeat Dossi, who faces stiff competition from former president Geoff Gondwe, former executive member Hastings Kapenuka, former treasurer Hubert Mfune, former MTL Wanderers general secretary and Flames defender Walter Nyamilandu, former Fam technical committee chair Kelvin M’mangisa and former soccer star Atlee Nkhonjera.
Dossi said should he get the nod for the Fam presidency, his first task will be to restore the image of the football governing body.
“The public has completely lost trust and confidence in the association and as a result it has lost major sponsorships and it cannot woo the public sector to invest in football, it’s in a pathetic state,” said Dossi.
He boasted that as a former minister of sports, he knows which buttons to touch to achieve his goals.
“As a former sports minister, I used to be in direct contact with Fam and I know its problems and how they can be tackled,” he said.
The former minister also said if elected he would concentrate on developing the game from grassroot level, boosting the revenues of the association through several marketing strategies and sending coaches and referees for advanced courses.
“I would also like to entice fans to start patronising games. Spectators have lost interest in football because of several reasons such as violence and the type of administration that we have and I would see to it that those problems are addressed.
“Then there are other areas like transport. I would see to it that every affiliate has transport because that is one of the critical areas.”
But doesn’t he think the move is a step backwards having served as a sports minister?
“No! if you are a good citizen, you have to accept whatever role you are given by the people. For instance if I was asked to go and clean the streets today, I will definitely do that,” said Dossi.
How about the campaign timing, doesn’t he think he is a bit late?
“I don’t think so because I have already set the ball rolling. I have been talking to affiliates in the South and next week I will be heading for the Central Region and finally up North...its about the ideas that matters most,” said Dossi
|
