adminGrace Chingoma
Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe international Alois Bunjira believes a positive revolution is ongoing on the African continent as more former players take aim at football administration.
Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o was on Saturday elected the FA president of his country a month before the West African nation hosts the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The former Barcelona star polled 43 votes to beat incumbent Abdouraman Amadou who got 31 votes.
Local former footballers have also hailed the appointment.
Yesterday, former CAPS United striker Bunjira, who has since expressed his interest in the ZIFA’s presidency candidature in next year’s election, believes there are lessons to pick from the Cameroonian football legend’s elevation.
“It is a positive revolution for African football which is beneficial to all football lovers, including those that vote.
“Locally, we can also take heart and cue. It is a step in the right direction to the restoration of football and its structures. Success naturally follows this.
“Kalusha Bwalya transformed Zambian football and set up the country to what it is today football-wise. Never mind his CAF and FIFA issues… but he is the one who set up structures in Zambian football and kick-started the interest and professionalism we see today.
“Eto’o will do the same for Cameroon football.
“Ivory Coast people missed the bus when they decided to be personal and emotional blocking Didier Drogba.
“They could be at a better place, with the FIFA support as well,” said Bunjira.
Bunjira feels that former players are strategically placed to understand football struggles that are often misunderstood by some administrators.
“This a new dawn for Cameroon football and Africa at large. FIFA, who through FIFPRO, have been advocating for former footballers to take more interest in the affairs of football and how the game is administered.
“This is all because football, for it to stay alive, it needs development structures and the conveyor belt to keep developing new talent. FIFA and FIFPRO realise that former footballers have a big role to play because of their understanding of how development works because they have been there and gone through the mill.
“It is a welcome development in Africa because it is in Africa where the development of football had hit an all-time low as many administrations were coming in and didn’t understand football and its development.
“This is like a reset button for Africa. Many development structures have been destroyed in Africa as people who didn’t understand football slowly took over and infiltrated football. No wonder the standards have been falling.
“Former footballers have a natural passion for football, development, and heart for success unlike people who get into football with an eye in money that can be earned,” Bunjira said.
Another former player who requested anonymity, believes professional experience count.
“I think it is time for football players to take control of the game.
“They understand the needs of the people who make the sport possible that is the players. Business people and others end up playing politics at the expense of football players, creating unsustainable structures that leave players drained and unable to cope.
“It will be interesting to see how Eto’o translates all the experience he has gained at the top level as a multiple winner at club and national level into leadership.
“Football stakeholders must choose people with a heart for football and proven experience in running or playing the game at a high level. That experience counts,” he said.
Online Reporter