AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
PATRICE Motsepe, one of Africa’s billionaire club owners is on a mission to become the most powerful man in African football.
Motsepe, the businessman who owns Mamelodi Sundowns, has emerged as a strong contender for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
His candidacy is supported by the South African Football Football Association (SAFA) as well as the South African government.
Motsepe will take on the current CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, who dethroned the football strongman Issa Hayatou, of Cameroon, three years ago and Jacques Anouma of Ivory Coast.
The elections are scheduled to take place on March 12 during CAF’s general assembly in Rabat, Morocco.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan said his organisation’s national executive committee had approved a decision to support Motsepe’s candidacy. “CAF must improve its global standing and he is the most appropriate person we could offer for the leadership of CAF,” he said.
Motsepe also has the support of Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Botswana.
Nigerian Football Association president Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who joined the announcement of Motsepe’s candidacy, via zoom, said Motsepe was suited for the job. Pinnick spoke highly of Motsepe, with emphasis on his leadership qualities.
Pinnick’s support is crucial. In 2017, he helped Ahmad to defeat Hayatou.
Motsepe will be expected to stand down as the president of Sundowns should he become the new president of CAF.
