Sports / Soccer
Caf delegates caught off guard, says Sibanda
19 May 2016 at 06:32hrs | Views
ZIFA vice-president Omega Sibanda says Caf delegates to the 66th Fifa congress in Mexico last week were surprised by the appointment of Senegalese diplomat Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as general secretary of the world football governing body.
Sibanda, who led the Zifa delegation, said all Caf delegates gave new Fifa president Gianni Infantino a standing ovation after he announced Samoura's appointment.
The Senegalese takes over from Frenchman Jerome Valcke, who was sacked over alleged graft, and becomes the first woman to hold the second most powerful post in world football.
"It was really moving when the Fifa president announced the new general secretary, much to the delight of African delegates.
"To us, it meant Fifa was recognising Caf and indeed Africa," said Sibanda.
He said the congress also proved to be a unifier, as for the first time in the history of Fifa, confederations such as Caf and Uefa were housed in the same hotel and during the gathering itself, confederations and associations were seated in alphabetic order unlike previously when it was only per confederation.
"There were also some positives, especially if you look at reforms, which are changing the face of Fifa, meaning football is being changed worldwide for the better.
"It was also moving to hear the Fifa president encouraging developed countries to assist underdeveloped countries, particularly African and Oceania states.
"He encouraged the developed countries to donate part of their Fap (Financial Assistance Programme) funds to up-and-coming countries of their choice," Sibanda said.
He said Infantino encouraged interaction through national association congresses, which he said was going to be introduced soon whereby countries would be placed in groups of 20 randomly picked to have a congress discussing football development, including marketing, merchandising and television rights, among others.
Sibanda, who led the Zifa delegation, said all Caf delegates gave new Fifa president Gianni Infantino a standing ovation after he announced Samoura's appointment.
The Senegalese takes over from Frenchman Jerome Valcke, who was sacked over alleged graft, and becomes the first woman to hold the second most powerful post in world football.
"It was really moving when the Fifa president announced the new general secretary, much to the delight of African delegates.
"To us, it meant Fifa was recognising Caf and indeed Africa," said Sibanda.
He said the congress also proved to be a unifier, as for the first time in the history of Fifa, confederations such as Caf and Uefa were housed in the same hotel and during the gathering itself, confederations and associations were seated in alphabetic order unlike previously when it was only per confederation.
"There were also some positives, especially if you look at reforms, which are changing the face of Fifa, meaning football is being changed worldwide for the better.
"It was also moving to hear the Fifa president encouraging developed countries to assist underdeveloped countries, particularly African and Oceania states.
"He encouraged the developed countries to donate part of their Fap (Financial Assistance Programme) funds to up-and-coming countries of their choice," Sibanda said.
He said Infantino encouraged interaction through national association congresses, which he said was going to be introduced soon whereby countries would be placed in groups of 20 randomly picked to have a congress discussing football development, including marketing, merchandising and television rights, among others.
Source - chronicle
