Integrity vital in TFF constitution

One of the changes the new constitution of the
Tanzania Football Federation ought to see
relates to the question of integrity.
The federation has been instructed by world
soccer governing body FIFA to make
constitutional amendments that will also focus
on the establishment of an organ responsible
for evaluating all candidates’ personal
integrity.
Lest we forget: soccer is a game with immense
ability to mint money from matches,
advertisements and endorsements. There is
also the annual injection from FIFA to the tune
of $250,000 at the disposal of federation
officials.
In theory, it is near impossible to know the
level or degree of a person’s integrity.
However, every candidate intending to vie for
a certain post in the federation must be
examined thoroughly to know how he or she
stands in terms of integrity.
It is undeniable that there are bona fide
people who might be interested in being
elected just for the sake of it while they know
full well that they are confirmed misfits not
making the grade as leaders.
These should know that TFF elections are
highly competitive not just because people
enjoy being in positions of leadership but
because of the money factor whether – well-
managed soccer can easily grow into a cash
cow!
This time around, FIFA has “advised” TFF to
amend its constitution without forgetting the
need to establish an organ that would bar the
inclusion of people with tainted records,
including possibly having previously committed
offences while serving the federation.
However, going by the principles of natural
justice, people should not be barred from
vying for election merely on the strength of
longstanding allegations levelled against them
but without their cases having ever reached
the stage of being brought before a court of
law.
Still, those responsible for amending the
constitution must devise a mechanism or
include provisions under which candidates with
confirmed problems on the integrity score
would be thoroughly screened so that they do
not put the game to shame.
For purposes of greater fairness and
transparency, both candidates and incumbent
office bearers ought to go through the
integrity check. As the country strives to raise
the standard of soccer, the aim should be to
ensure that we vote in officials who are
genuinely committed to making Tanzania a
soccer powerhouse – at least in this part of the
world.
Nor should the election committee be fazed by
candidates’ level of education or professional
training as a substitute for integrity though, of
course, this should not mean going for people
who can barely write, read or count.
Our country’s soccer has reached a point
where it urgently needs thorough sprucing up
if it is to catch up with global trends,
becoming truly scientific.
TFF should not turn into an institution greedy
people use to exploit every available
opportunity for selfish interests. The current
leadership must therefore heed the FIFA advice
and help Tanzanians both understand and
observe the rules and regulations governing
the game.
We wish to see TFF elections decided not by
irrelevant things such as the real or imagined
wealth or influence of candidates but by true
ability to lead and guide our soccer to greater
and greater heights of success.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN