Arguably the only African footballer or ex-international who worked his way to head his country's' Football Association is Kalusha Bwalya. He was President of Zambia Football Association between 2008-2016.
Recently, Didier Drogba tried in Cote 'd'Ivoire but was frustrated and muscled out by the forces that doesn't want true change in the nation's football just like in it's political circle.
Segun Odegbami long ago attempted on few occasions to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the leadership of the nation's football but the system blocked him. Obviously, those running the sport don't want him in and that was it.
This appears an African problem.... to stop their best from heading their FAs thus, paving way for the status quo to remain. Those who didn't kick an orange or apple are the ones running the sport. If they are doing well, it would have been a different story.
But corruption and embezzlement of funds meant to better and develop the sport are their trademarks thus, destroying the sport even as Africa remain in the doldrums of football development despite having huge talents with experience and contacts to take the sport to glory land.
The argument of those destroying the sport and shutting the doors at ex-internationals with massive input, knowledge and experience to offer is that, "The fact that you are an excellent former player doesn't imply that you will end up a good administrator."
Yet they who are the better administrators keep ruining the sport all in the name of running it. The best they give to the ex-internationals is a mere technical committee role...and painfully the head of the technical committee will be someone who knows nothing about football ut only got into the FA by stroke of fate of quota system.
Samuel Eto'O of Cameroun has just thrown his towel into the ring to contest the 2021 FECAFOOT election. This by every standard is a welcome development. It is a big step forward in having a round peg in a round hole.
We can only hope that the treatment meted out to Drogba by his countrymen is not replicated by Camerounians to Eto'O. They should just be wise enough to allow Eto'O bring in his wealth of experience to help lift football in the country back to where it was when they won the AFCON in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017. The first three of these victories were at the expense of Nigeria.
Africa can only imagine the kind of development in football the continent will record if the likes of Eto'O, Drogba and perhaps Nwankwo Kanu among others head their respective FAs.
The world awaits the outcome of Eto'O's bold step in this election. Best wishes great lion of the Indomitable stock.
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