Congrats Ahmad Ahmad

As an advocate of change, I would like to congratulate Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad for wrestling power from Issa Hayatou who had overstayed his welcome as CAF president.

After 29 years, Hayatou had run out of ideas and grown too old for the job. I argued a few weeks ago how depressing it was to see him hunched in a chair, cutting a haggard figure, phlegm drooling from one side of his mouth as he slept at the 2017 Afcon finals.

But this change will be meaningless if it is a mere change of personnel. We want to see fresh ideas being implemented and a paradigm shift in the manner of conducting business. So, is Ahmad the new broom that will sweep corruption and shenanigans that have reduced Afcon to a less desirable tournament in recent years? Let’s wait and see.

Similarly, here at home we want to see change in leadership. There is no denying that the current leadership has run out of ideas. Walter Nyamilandu won the election on the back of a promise to harvest sweet grapes from the football vineyard.

But since then the harvest has been very sour. Bad blood between FAM and Sulom is now threatening sponsorship of the super league. Delays in appointing a coach is now jeopardising Flames’ participation in the Chan and Afcon tournaments. Where is the harvest?

Of course, on sponsorship people should accept to make some compromises to coexist and create a win-win situation. Clubs deserve a better deal, too. CFTC has done its part and it is now up to Sulom, TNM and FAM to implement recommendations.

Officials should also look into the manner in which Civo has bought it’s way back into the Super League after relegation. I think it violates the regulations and the spirit of competitiveness. At this rate, Be Forward or Bullets can afford to get relegated on the understanding that they will pay off  teams and be accepted back in the not so elite league.

Now to Europe, first of all I would like to congratulate my Manchester United for qualifying into the quarter finals of the Europa League. Of course, it comes at a cost of playing more games. Between playing against Chelsea on Monday, Rostov on Thursday then Middlesbrough on Sunday, United will have played three games in six days. It’s not good for United to climb out of six and mount a credible campaign for the crown this season.

Congrats to Leicester City again for qualifying for the quarter finals of the prestigious Champions League. The players having won the domestic league, their ambition was properly focused on the European stage. Whoever they draw in their next match, I wish them all the best for defying the odds.

The big one this week is between Man City and Liverpool. Liverpool are favourites because they have not yet lost against the top six plus they are fresh compared to Man City who are just coming from a humiliating exit in Europe against Monaco. It is bleak for City because after Liverpool, they will face Arsenal. And the experiments of Guardiola are not working so far. n