Governing Bodies
Cheers from FIFA as Sanusi gets record-extending tenure
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
In a case that reflects the proverbial Oxford Reference idiom of “while two dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it”, Dr Mohammed Sanusi is the ultimate winner, getting another term in office as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The position goes with the title ‘General Secretary’. There were speculations in the news space that he would not be reappointed and two staff member names were dropped as possible successors almost triggering a media battle.
But while that was on, Sanusi clinched the ‘bone’ and thus further extended his existing record of longest tenure in the 91-year history of the football association that is wrongfully believed to have been founded in 1945 instead of the 21 August 1933 actual foundation date.
As of Monday when Sanusi was reappointed, he has grossed 3542 days – nine years, eight months and nine days – in office.
That easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Sanusi now has at least another 1,095 days ahead to possibly bring his tenure to 4, 637 days – 12 years, eight months and nine days.
The record may be unassailable for many years to come. He has already drawn accolades from his corresponding office in FIFA.
According to a media release from the communication department of the NFF, FIFA on Monday formally congratulated Sanusi on his re-appointment as General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, for another term of three years.
The letter, signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, read inter alia: “I am very pleased to extend my warmest congratulations on your recent appointment as General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“This role is essential to the governance, daily operations, and long-term success of your association, and your expertise will be instrumental in advancing your federation’s goals in Nigeria and Africa.
“To this end, our Chief of Member Associations, Elkhan Mammadov, together with Gelson Fernandes and the entire FIFA team, are at your disposal to support you in this new role.
“Through our different programs, they are here to collaborate with you and your team on any inquiries related to the development of your member association and your interactions with FIFA.
“ I look forward to meeting you in person in the near future to discuss how we can work together to reinforce our shared mission and make football accessible and inspiring for all communities in Nigeria and around the world.”
Rebels toppling the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prompted the country’s soccer federation to change the colour of the national team’s kit and logo from red to green.
Syrian rebels seized the capital Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family’s autocratic rule.
As the events unfolded, the Syrian soccer federation announced it was changing the colour of its logo and the kit of the men’s first team.
“Our new national team uniform,” the Syrian football federation posted on Facebook alongside a photo of several players clad in green.
“The first historic change to happen in the history of Syrian sports, far from nepotism, favouritism and corruption,” it added.
-Reuters
The Confédération of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has conveyed condolences to the victims of the Guinea stadium tragedy.
According to a press release by CAF, Dr. Motsepe is deeply saddened by the stadium stampede that claimed the lives of over 50 football fans and left others injured during a football match at the Stade du 3 Avril in N’Zérékoré.
The tragedy occurred during a friendly football tournament between the city of N’Zérékoré and the city of Labe.
CAF President Dr Motsepe conveys his and CAF’s deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FGF) Leadership and the people of Guinea.
Dr Motsepe also wished a speedy recovery to the injured football fans.
Algeria’s Kheireddine Zetchi has become the third football governing body’s fourth official to be arrested this year.
According to Algerian media, the 59-year-old businessman who was a former president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is accused, along with others, of corruption through “the conclusion of contracts in violation of the law for the granting of undue advantages to others and obtaining unjustified privileges,” “willful misappropriation of public funds,” and “abuse of function.”
Earlier, the presidents of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga and that of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan were arrested this year over financial deals.
In the Algerian episode, Kheireddine Zetchi who succeeded Mohamed Raouraoua at the head of the FAF, presided over Algerian football from 2017 to 2021. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Paradou Football Training Centre.
According to various sources, corruption is rampant in Algerian football, as the management under Zetchi’s predecessors was marred by malfeasance and corruption.
But other sources claimed that the legal against Kheireddine Zetchi is revenge by the military regime in Algeria, which has not forgiven the former FAF president for his vote during the 43rd General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football Confederation (CAF), in favour of amending Article 4 of the statutes of the pan-African body.
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