Governing Bodies
Motsepe and the challenge of a second CAF cap
BY MITCHELL OBI
As we say in our local parlance jungle don mature…the tiger needs to show its tigritude..Away with the lukewarm comportment of shying from entering the trench.
It was no surprise to see Dr Patrice Motsepe throw his hat into the ring for a second term as CAF President. He has shown good courage of a leader sure of his ability and capacity to seek reaffirmation of his performance. One good term deserves another and some will add that even failure deserves a repeat as it was in our early school days.
The first time he got the nod as CAF President came via acclamation. The coast was made clear for him with the multiple flightn shuttles of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, his principal sponsor. Major contenders had to roll back their posters and swallow the pill of consensus and compromise. It was not easy even as they got compensated to stay within the power corridor to bid their time. That time now seems a bridge too far with Motsepe stealing the thunder of declaring his candidacy in a brave posturing to anticipate any pretender. Infact, the early pretension of the Lion from Yaounde appears to have fizzled out with the sword of damocles dangling before his troubled body of iniquities. Now he needs to check the combustive home front in Yaounde to dare the Sundown Lion. African politics knows how to silence its loudest sons . And lessons remain to be learnt.
One of such lessons is the creeping style of Motsepe which tend to suggest a certain nonchalance in holding office. A billionaire of note, he laughs at the thought of anyone contemplating his quest for power at football’s peak spot in the continent. Yet anyone who has keenly followed his stewardship as CAF President and appreciated his deep investment in it must realise the overriding joy and acquired clout piling up for another enterprise. Motsepe needs the cream from football to sweeten and smoothen his path to political heights in his homeland. It is so typical of those who make toys of bank notes. And emblazoning his name in the minds of passionate football followers in the continent should be a sure step to gain political mileage where it matters. When I see Motsepe’s coloured passion for the game I am forcibly reminded of Nigeria’s MKO Abiola of blessed memory. Abiola was indeed the Pillar of Sports in Africa and he effectively used the vehicle of football to catalyse a rewarding quest for presidential power in Nigeria.
So what do we make of Motsepe’s drive to secure a second mandate? Some have evoked the Ides of March and some have painted the picture of a reluctant candidate.
But the big question is whether Motsepe has done enough to be re-elected. He has gingerly built his style and shifted from the early painting of a stooge of the Zurich Czar.
He has closed the thought of those who think of leadership as a looting window and sprayed a dose of integrity and viability into the continental football body.
A critical assessment and appraisal of his four years may come later. My thrust here is simply an appreciation of the courage to open the gates for next year’s presidential election. Will he go back to his seat unopposed? Is he being pushed into the trench with covering fire from those who are content with the status quo?
One thing is sure. football power is an aphrodisiac. One craves for it like licking bonbons.
Inside Motsepe is the heart of a man enamoured of the charm of CAF President and I dare say a third term will not be a far cry. A miner keeps digging even when he finds gold.
Dr. Mitchell Obi is the immediate past president of AIPS-Africa.
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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