This week , our guest writer and known football administrator , Oscar Keke takes a look at the impending changes in CAF.
Enjoy it.
Rising from its Extra-ordinary General Assembly held at Morocco last week, the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ratified some far-reaching alterations proposed for its continental competitions, as mooted at a Symposium organised within the auspices of the assembly, for that purpose; to wit, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), it’s youth level counterparts, and the inter-clubs competitions: the CAF Champions League, and the CAF Confederations Cup competitions, respectively.
For the purpose of this brief discourse, my focus will veer mostly towards the AFCON, and the adjustment of the participation in its finals from the current 16-nation format to another that would henceforth accommodate 24 participating nations. Also altered is the period of the competition, which is being moved to the summer months of June/July, to better align it with the timing of similar continental competitions elsewhere, with particular emphasis, methinks, on Europe.
CAF has adduced reasons for the proposed changes, foremost of which is the imperative of boosting the competition’s commercial viability, a benefit that will be deriving from the expansion, with the inclusion of more countries with increased continent-wide audiences.
Another justification is the resultant expansion of the competitive space to enable more countries that may not otherwise have gotten the opportunity, to qualify to showcase themselves. The exploits of the team from Cape Verde in very recent memory clearly indicates that so much raw talent still remains undiscovered and untapped in the nooks and crannies of Africa, and are just awaiting the right opportunity to explode into the limelight. A corollary to this would be the obviation of the rancour occasioned by the reluctance, nay refusal of some European clubs to release their African players to their national teams during periods when they are heavily engaged in their own local league, and other club campaigns.
Expectedly a renewed drive for the development of more modern sporting infrastructure across the continent would be propelled, as more nations hopefully compete to provide more attractive enabling environments for the hosting of games. One strong argument against holding the AFCON in the summer months has been the fact that the period falls within the thick of the rainy season in much of sub Saharan Africa, with the very real prospect of overly water logged pitches detracting from the smooth flow of established competition timetables, and compromising the spectators’ enjoyment. Furthermore, the very high temperature levels in the Sahel/Sahara/ Maghreb regions during that period are better imagined.
The expectation therefore is that the new schedule would serve to usher in the development of all-weather, or weather-proof arenas as the norm across the continent, as the various nations gear up to improve their eligibility to host tournaments.
The dividends in improved tourism cannot also be overlooked. We all know that most Africans prefer to go on vacation outside Africa. Quite apart from the security and infrastructural concerns, this preference could also be as a result of an ignorance of the tourism potentials within the continent. Quite apart from the popular safaris in East Africa and the pyramids of Egypt, most people have no clue about what else is available. An enlarged AFCON may serve to expose the potentials of hitherto unthought-of destinations within and around Africa. It would be exciting to have Seychelles, Comoros Island, Djibouti and other such countries become regular features in our various continental competitions, and to have fans travel to, and discover those and other exotic places.
To digress a bit, as we await the exposition of CAF’s proposed changes to its inter-clubs competitions, I sincerely hope that they adopt the single-leg final match, to be played at a neutral venue as is done in Europe and elsewhere. I sincerely believe that if that had been the format at the time, my then club, Heartland FC would have won the Champions League, rather than TP Mazembe in 2009.
In situating the change that has been wrought in the leadership of African football, the encouraging initiatives, programmes and policies we observe emanating therefrom, as well as the positive reforms, have so far provided an eloquent demonstration that at all times Change is the only thing constant in life.
AS EMETEOLE GOES HOME
Kelechi Emetole, popularly known as ‘Caterpillar,’ due to his ‘take-no-prisoners’ style of defending during his footballing days, is no more. His numerous exploits, attainments, laurels and honours need no further recounting here, because they have been repeatedly rehashed, and rehashed in the various media, since the breaking of the news of his passing away. Mine is a brief personal glimpse of the man as I knew him, based on my observations during the brief periods I knew and worked with him.
A member of the bronze winning Nigerian national football team at the 1976 African Cup of Nations, EMETEOLE was a regular member of the team from 1975-1977. He coached various national teams including the Sand Eagles.
Like everyone else, I had always heard about and knew of ‘Caterpillar,’ but had not physically met him, until late in 2008 when he was engaged to assume duty as the Technical Adviser/ Head Coach of Heartland Football Club, where I was then employed as the club’s Secretary/Head of Administration. His sunny and humorous disposition, and friendly mien ensured that we got off to a cordial and friendly start right from the beginning. It was likewise for most other members of the staff.
Alas, we were to learn soon after that he was suffering from cancer, and required to travel to India for urgently needed surgery. Sadly, he never recovered. He was aged 66 years.
Kelechi Emetole was an astute strategist and tactician, a firm disciplinarian.
He had a great sense of humour, and it was always a joy to travel in the same vehicle with him for matches. He was a member of the Owerri based Maroko social/sporting club where he was humorously designated as the CTO (chief tasting officer), because of his insistence on tasting all food and drink presented to the group on their behalf.
His family has announced that he will be laid to rest at his hometown, Amiyi Obilohia in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, on 18th August, 2017.
•Till next week, keep attacking.