Are the 11 Football Votes up for Sale?

The general feedback from my previous posts of 7 and 8 July indicated a predisposition on the part of commentators to go for the PERSON rather than the ISSUE!

This is understandable. We cannot discount the significance of the larger political context within which this election is being played out. Azim and Kaleem's backgrounds and reputations within this larger political context naturally took precedence.

Another feature was the tendency to speculate on the cross cutting political forces impacting the behaviour of these candidates. It appears all political forces emanate from interests closely allied with the government/DRP.

No coincidence!
This is not a coincidence! It is only to be expected. The FIFA, courtesy of the good Dato', I suspect, was one of the first casualties. He declared (dictated) five "choice individuals" to the Interim Committee, apparently with FIFA consultation!

The Interim Committee followed suite as "dictated" by its composition. This committee, "brokered" by the good Dato' was entrusted by the world parent body, the FIFA to be the guardian of Maldivian football and by default the SAFF Cup, until a new administration is elected. But the FIFA committee unilaterally "loaned" President Gayyoom the SAFF Cup for his campaign. The latest news is that the Cup was damaged as police "saved" it from a mob in Noonu Velidhoo. This is as I write!

Football have made high profile history and exposed plenty of "deadwood"! We must thank our SAFF Cup winning National Team for their timely intervention. There is no better moment to unite Maldivians through football than now.

Now, it is going to be the "elected" President and the Executive Committee that have to wriggle free from the shackles of this dominant government that have dictated everything from policy to chief guests and finally the infamous jersey number, the classic No. 1, MAUMOON!

It is absolutely foolish to believe that President Gayyoom and his cronies can still "stage manage" the FAM elections. Acting on such an assumption will not be in the interest of the candidates.

Confusion!
One, rather sympathetic observer commented that candidates "....please do not take the post cos you want to empower, but take it cos you want to serve for a better future...".

The comment reflects the disengagement we have suffered from the political processes that impact our everyday life. Sport, have not been spared! The word "politics" itself have been conceived as a threat! It throws us out of our "comfort zone". Such is the power of the fear psychosis instilled in us by good old President Gayyoom. How can one serve for a better future without empowering the people who in turn have to work tirelessly to ensure this better future?

Considering the elections are to be held some 4 days after the entry deadline of 16 July, is it too late to urge the candidates to state their plans for the association?

Policy
A general guideline of his policy direction will suffice.

Male'-centric football model: For example, are we going to continue with the Male'-centric football model, akin to the "kuda-sitee" culture which required "islanders" or "rah-fushu meehun" to get a permit to land on the capital island Male'. Though the practice ceased to exist some years back, the incumbent government have deliberately maintained the culture. The voting structure under which the FIFA Interim Committee have opened up these elections is a shining example of the dominence of this disturbing mentality!

Take football to the islands: Would the candidate depart from such anti-development norms? Would he rather take football to the people. Those thousands of fans living out there in the 200 inhabited islands. And, can we make football a celebration that dominate their everyday life? To look forward to that weekend encounter! Will he host elite Male' teams in the zone stadiums of the north and south to build confidence? Will he have the "balls" to depart from this ingrained culture of centralised governance?

Home and away rule: Will he decentralise the atolls into associations who in turn will be empowered to conduct home and away island leagues at the local, atoll level. The European experience have taught us that a key ingredient of their success was the home and away rule.

Local identity: How will the new President empower clubs to once again regain their local identities, the "avashu" or ward club, " rashu" or island clubs, atoll representative clubs? These are basic ingredients, the RIGHTS necessary to get a truly national football network up and running. "Avah" and "rashu" identities have been stifled by Gayyoom's government to serve his own political motives! Will the candidates support procedures on say, how New Radiant can become the official Henveiru club and Victory the official Ghalolhu Club. How will the candidates inspire youth into football culture? How do they plan to make football flourish?

Passion and commerce: How aware are the candidates of the underlying passion with which Maldivians have embraced football and the immense opportunities this opens up for modern commercial initiatives? We ran out of merchandised jerseys, flags and what not last month during the SAFF Cup. Some young football journalists have already raised some or most of these issues in our premier football website maldivesoccer.com.

Are these votes worth the price?
We must be alert to the challenges that lie ahead for the new FA President. Apart from the legitimacy of the elections and his future public standing, the candidate also have the un-envious task of guiding the association away from the claws of a fledgling government that would cling onto anything for political survival. Is Kaleem and Azim up to the challenge? How well are they placed to guide the FAM from the claws of such powerful interest groups?

So, the question! Are the 11 votes up for sale, and if so is the price worth it?