New CAF boss Patrice Motsepe has his work cut out

FILE PHOTO: South Africa's businnes man Patrice Motsepe gesture [REUTERS]

Patrice Motsepe ascension to the helm of African football leadership as the new Confederation of African Football (CAF) president was a mere formality.

In a negotiated pact, his three opponents bowed out past mid-race and will now serve has his assistants.

But that was the easier part for the billionaire mining magnate and owner of South Africa's champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The work ahead, with so many expectations on his shoulders, is arduous, and to say the least, his in-tray is overflowing.

As he walks into his Cairo office, the lawyer by profession will be confronted by a myriad of issues chief being reputational challenges.

South African billionaire Motsepe elected African football chief [photo courtesy]

CAF under his predecessor Ahmad endured a battered image of corruption, instability and general maladministration.

To rope incorporates to support his development plan as envisaged in his campaign manifesto, Motsepe will have to move with speed and restore trust in the 64-year-old organisation which is lagging behind all other confederations in almost all aspects and demonstrate his administration is a clear break from the past where plunder and wastage of meagre resources was the order of the day.

COVID-19 has brought with it unique challenges to African football. Some cheeky clubs have weaponised the pandemic, using PCR tests to weaken their opponents by turning positive results for key players.

In one instance, eight players of a visiting team were declared positive rendering the match unplayable. Motsepe must stump his authority and address this matter as quickly as possible to preserve the reputation of the CAF interclubs.

The majority of Sub Saharan fans have been locked out of television broadcast for CAF matches since a contractual dispute saw Pan-African pay television provider Supersport pull out. This is another thorny issue the new administration must delve into and solve as soon as possible.

The organisation of CAF competitions remains uncertain. Earlier this week, the 2021 U17 Africa Cup of Nations that was slated for Morocco was cancelled at the last minute with the resurgence of COVID-19 in the North African Kingdom being cited as the reason even as some quarters alleged political sabotage.

These uncertainties continue to haunt CAF complications and works against their commercialisation efforts.

The less said about poor refereeing standards in the continent the better. These are issues Motsepe will be called upon to address without much time to rest.

The writer is a communications expert