The race for FIFA’s top job gets tougher as Election Day get closer. There are five main contenders to replace Sepp Blatter who has been in charge for almost two decades.
One such candidate is Prince Ali bin Al Hussein from Jordan. The 40 year old contested Blatter in last year’s elections securing 34 percent of votes.
Ali has presented himself as the reform-minded, corruption free candidate needed to lead football’s world governing body.
One of his many tours around the world to solicit support for his campaign landed lead him to Accra where high profile West African football heads were meeting.
Below is a transcribed version of an exclusive one-on-one interview between Joy Sports George Addo Jnr (GA) and Prince Ali (PA).
GA: This is your first interview in Ghana. Thanks Prince for joining me.
PA: Well, it’s wonderful to be back in Ghana and Africa as well. And also good to have an opportunity to have a discussion about the future as well.
GA: You were very close to winning the last election, with 73 votes to Blatter’s 133. Obviously, Africa’s votes weren’t part. How crucial are these votes to you this time round?
PA: Well Africa is extremely critical, because this is where football has the future and I really want to see the development of the sport on the continent. Obviously I want to garner more support from Africa’s associations; give them the ability to stand on their own; and to have their dignity as well. For me, I come from a national association from a developing country [so] I want to use those similar experiences to turn FIFA into a service organization. I think that Africa needs a lot more representation and I am there to make sure that happens.
GA: I have seen your manifesto, and really all candidates will run on the same mantra “We will help Africa” to canvas for votes. Tell me Prince, how sincere is your will to push for Africa?
PA: Obviously I think a lot has been done and nothing is going to change from that. Having said that I think that I can be involved to do a lot more. I have seen that from the time I was elected as FIFA vice president (and maybe I was the youngest one) but I think we need to bring that new energy and also deal with the countries on a case by case basis.
I think that nobody knows better the needs of region than its people, [and in view of this] I want to create an office in all regions so we can have real hands on the projects to support football in Africa and all the basics. From kids, to pitches and to infrastructure. But we also have to fix the reputation of FIFA.
GA: One thing that worked for Blatter was honouring promises he made to the African continent. I know you have said a lot, but what are the specifics in terms of promises?
PA: Firstly, I am someone who follows through with what I say. I am doing this because I love the sport. Also, I think it’s time the world accepts that we can have a president from a different part of the world and comes with developing the nation because at the end of the day that’s the umbrella for FIFA.In my manifesto, I have an amount of funding for national associations on one side, which I think is crucial to allowing the associations feel more self-sustainable. At the same time, we are going to have much more in terms of developmental projects for men, for women and specifically for the grassroots. I have done that in Asia, it was a developmental project was a non-profit. We managed to get the sport on the ground for the kids; and I want to take that on a global level.
GA: Finally Prince Ali, I want you to [look into the camera and] tell Africa why you are the best candidate for them and for FIFA even though you are absurdly young compared to your competitors.
PA: It’s a young sport. Why am I the best? It’s because I love the sport. I have been working for it all my life. And again I come from a developing nation in football and I believe it’s time to prove that we can achieve what we set out to do. It is time that our voices are heard. And I believe that Africa is the future. I am hoping that if we get things right; if we get things right for our kids, we should be looking at a world cup champion soon. – GNews
