FIFA Council Member, Amaju Pinnick, has restated that gunning for a second term in the hallowed chambers of the world football governing body was not a “Do or Die Affair.”
In barely 12 days from now, Africa will hold elections in Cairo, Egypt, to elect the next five men and lady to represent the continent in FIFA. Pinnick is one of favorites out of the 10 men seeking the five tickets on offer.
Speaking on SuperSport’s African Soccerprogramme in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday evening, monitored by ThisDay’s Duro Ikhazuagbe, the two-term former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said his quest for a second term was for him to consolidate on the great jobs the Gianni Infantino led FIFA Council has started.
“Trust me, my quest for a second term in the FIFA Council is not a do or die affair. I have my businesses and not one moment idle. I just want to ensure that those bridges built in the first term: those contacts made are well utilized for the greater good of global football,” reasoned the football FIFA Council member.
Pinnick also restated that all the candidates running for the five tickets were eminently qualified for the job.
Without mincing words, Pinnick gave kudos to Infantino for conferring integrity on FIFA with his leadership style. “When he came in 10 years ago, things were not this rosy. He has been able to reposition the Council. Now the Council is very healthy in terms of finance, global respect and recognition.”
He insisted that to be a member of the FIFA Council does not give one the chance to beat one’s chest as having done this or that. “It is not about Amaju Pinnick, Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, or Hany Abou Rida. No, we do things collectively. The President listens to various opinions to reach a decision. That is how the FIFA Council works. It is about the collective. And of course, there is the Congress which is the most powerful organ.”
He cited some of the changes carried out by the FIFA Council to which he belongs to include making major decisions that have changed the format of the World Cup, the big gains of the last Women’s World Cup in Australia and the New Zealand, amongst several others.
“The World Cup in Qatar and the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were phenomenal.”
Asked why African slots for the now expanded FIFA Women’s World Cup has reduced from five to four, Pinnick stressed that extensive consultations were carried out before such decision was reached. “If there was the need to increase Africa slots to six or seven, the FIFA Council headed by Gianni with CAF President, Patrice Motsepe as one of the Vice Presidents would have done so.”
The former NFF President will battle nine other contestants for the five tickets. They include; Hany Abou Rida (Egypt) who is seeking re-election; Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) is also seeking re-election; Yahia Ahmed (Mauritania); Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti); Idriss Dialli (Cote d’Ivoire); Mathurin Chakus (Benin Republic); Augustine Senghor (Senegal); Djibrilla Pele Hamidou (Niger Republic); and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia)
