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Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa says he will strive to improve the standards of football on the African continent and particularly in Kenya if elected to serve in the Fifa Council.
The thirty-nine-year-old Kenyan football boss is gunning to be elected as one of the seven African representatives in football’s fourth most powerful office.
Only Fifa president Gianni Infantinno, Senior vice president AL Khalifa Salman Bin Ebrahim and the seven vice-presidents including Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad wield more power.
This position, which primarily involves advising the Fifa president on international matters, comes with several benefits including an estimated Sh35 million annual income.
Four other candidates namely Tanzanian Leodgar Tenga, South Africa FA president Danny Jordan, Elvis Chetty from Seychelles and Malawi’s Walter Nyamilandu are challenging Mwendwa ahead of the polling exercise set for the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) General Assembly at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on September 30.
The fifty-four African Football presidents are eligible to vote in the exercise, which has been sparked by the resignation of Ghanaian Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is currently battling graft charges.
“I am qualified and experienced to perform this role as an advisor to the Fifa president,” said Mwendwa, who also expressed his confidence of winning the seat and becoming the first Kenyan ever to hold the office.
“Those saying I am young should know that it is an advantage. I have more energy to move around and help football to grow in Africa.”
“In Africa, our main challenge is with youth football, grassroots football and coaching. This is where we need to improve. It is where I will look into.”
Mwendwa has served as FKF president since 2016, when he easily beat Ambrose Rachier and Ssemi Aina during the sports body’s elections at Kasarani.
A Nairobi- based businessman with vast interests in Information Technology, Mwendwa’s tenure at the helm of Kenyan football has comparatively led to stability and professionalism in the running of affairs at his secretariat and within the various national football teams.
His stint so far has however been marred by the all too common challenges, especially the consistent squabbles and court battles involving the Kenyan Premier League Limited, inconsistent returns by the national teams and especially Harambee Stars, plus continuous lack of interest in the sport by the corporate world.
Ahmad and his assistant Constant Omari, who also is the Democratic Republic of Congo FA president, are some of the prominent football administrators from Africa currently serving at the Fifa Council
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