The 41-year-old Jordanian Prince who outlined his plans for Africa wrote on his website:
“Africa is part of my everyday life, my
family’s blood. My wife is African and my children can claim African
heritage. The vibrant, pulsating and uniquely diverse culture of Africa
occupies a special place in my heart.
“So does Africa’s passion for football.
As part of my campaign to become the new President of FIFA, I have
travelled extensively across the continent and witnessed first-hand the
African passion for the beautiful game. It is a passion I share with the
people of this vast continent. And if elected president of FIFA, I will
make it my personal mission to help African football grow and thrive.
“I see no reason why the Mother Continent whose terrestrial and maritime
migrants built civilizations, cities and communities in pre-historic
times cannot also create history on the playing fields of today.
“Football is woven into the very fabric
of African society. From the young boys and girls honing their skills on
dusty pitches to the world-class footballers plying their trade in the
cathedrals of the game globally, football is the heartbeat of the
continent. The quality and attraction of the Africa Cup of Nations, as
well the numerous African national sides competing in the World Cup,
fuel the dreams of those seeking to escape troubled lives and a
hardscrabble existence.
“Africa is home to more than a quarter of
the world’s footballing nations. African players have lit up the game
with renowned footballers whose roll call includes Roger Milla, George
Weah, Tony Yeboah, the Touré brothers and Samuel Eto’o. Then there are
those of African descent who have become immortalised: Zinedine Zidane,
Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu, JJ Okocha, Didier Drogba,
among them. And we’ve seen the commitment and dedication of these
footballers in giving back to the community — offering beacons of hope
for a new generation.
“The African continent is the perfect
example of the good that football can do. From inspiring hope among the
young, to supplying memorable and unforgettable moments that light up
lives, to helping bridge chasms by uniting people behind a shared
aspiration and instilling national pride — football is the ultimate tool
for good.
“However, despite the success African
football has achieved, I truly believe the FIFA of old could have done
more to help the game on the continent, and I am committed to bringing
this about. I will continue to support the good work FIFA has done in
terms of “hardware”, such as investing in stadiums, artificial pitches
and infrastructure across the continent.
“I will assess the needs of each nation
on the continent, from travel funds to coaching standards and medical
assistance and I will help them accordingly. No longer will there be a
“one size fits all” approach. The needs of the different African nations
are as diverse as the land itself.
“We need to put more funds towards
coaching so that qualified and experienced coaches can go to developing
football nations, assist them as well as gain valuable new skills and
experience; building a scholarship programme could be one way to do
this.
“For years, there has been a cacophonous
debate about World Cup slots. Despite the excitement and the flourish
with which African nations have enriched the tournament, proposals
around World Cup slots to date have been designed to appeal to some
confederations and some others have been created to court votes. The
same can be said about seats on the EXCO. Even simple matters such as
the international timetable is framed around a European short-haul
schedule, ignoring the travel times and accessibility that impact Africa
and other continents. This must change.
“Our duty at FIFA is to be trusted
stewards of the beautiful game. This I pledge to do. I fervently hope
Africa will support me in this quest.”
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