I guess this is the million dollar question! Maldives football is embarking on the treacherous journey of growing up! The process of guiding the FAM out of a culture of total government dominance to an autonomous civil society organisation with international benchmarks of good governence will not be without it's challenges.
The fact that the FIFA had to intervene with a five member interim transitional committee in November 2007 is proof of the serious lack of capacity on the part of government to bring about this transition from "within". The government's rhetoric of reform turned out to be an empty promise.
Kaleem was the government appointed Chairman and Azim was the New Radiant representative on the government appointed executive committee. While Azim was lobbying for his club, Kaleem accepted the grander ideal of positioning Maldives Football as a truly national representative body that would look after the interest of all football clubs, rich and poor alike.
Lost opportunity
I urged both Azim and Kaleem to initiate the transition around mid 2007. By then the FIFA was breathing down the FAM's neck and the government was scurrying to get a makeshift election organised. FIFA cried foul and the government backed off in fear of international suspension. I advised both Kaleem and Azim, that the Sports Ministry had lost it's legal mandate to control the FAM after the one year interim transition period specified in the 2003 Articles of Association expired in May 2004. The time was perfect for Kaleem to seek the support of the elite clubs in the executive committee and declare elections! Mattey and Hiyalee, both directly involved with the affairs of the FAM, preferred to take a back seat. Unfortunately none had the vision nor the resolve to provide the radical leadership necessary to fast track the transition process.
That is behind us now. Kaleem and Azim left their posts and let the FIFA representative Dato' Paul take over!
FIFA Interim Committee manipulates voter eligibility
The good Dato', in broad daylight, appointed five handpicked "individuals" to oversee FAM transition. The Interim Transitional Committee members were weak, lacked vision and leadership. The Committee is now caught attempting to legitimise the election of the FAM by a mere 11 clubs. Our National Team's SAFF success was a blessing in disguise. The fledgling FAM was thrown onto the national political stage when President Gayyoom sent the Cup off on a national tour for his personal campaign. The Interim Committee spinelessly watched on as the SAFF Cup was turned into a Political Football.
The national spotlight hopefully will not only highlight the politicization of the SAFF Cup. This is an opportune time as any to fix our gaze on the transitional process, specifically the ELECTIONS.
So who is the best candidate?
As part answer to this million dollar question, we must focus on the elections. Kaleem and Azim will have to lobby for a minimum of 6 out of the 11 votes to win. What are the candidates offering? MONEY or POLICIES? We would want each candidate to present us with their manifesto, their vision and how they plan to achieve it.
Azim and Kaleem failed to score in the first half. They failed to capitalise on the recent opportunity to provide leadership. The FIFA then intervened, in the guise of Dato' Paul! The outcome was the manupulation of the FA elections in favour of a mere 11 elite clubs out of a ninety strong membership. To our shock and horror, these candidates are now hoping they will win the legal mandate to provide the FAM with future leadership by securing a mere 6 votes! This really takes the cake!
Moral authority
All I know is, this election exclusively dominated by a mere eleven Male' based clubs will not secure either Azim or Kaleem the moral authority to lead Maldives Football. Island clubs out there on our 200 islands are watching what the Interim committee and these two candidates are up to.
The two best "zone" (or island) teams who are competing in the premier Dhivehi League do not have the right to vote in the FAM elections! This league is ongoing as we speak.
Laamu Khalaidhoo and Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo qualified to play by going through an arduous process. Unlike Male' clubs, they have to play three qualifying rounds, atoll, zone and zone champions round. The qualification process takes over three months. Amateur players have to travel to the atoll, zone and Male venues to qualify. In sharp contrast, the elite eleven clubs with voting rights live, work and play in Male'. The financial burden excludes the over sixty (60) island based clubs from maintaining the participation targets favoured by the 28 Male' based clubs who recently ratified the FA Statutes under the watchful eyes of the FIFA Official Dato' Paul in Male' on 16 June.
Time will tell how events will unfold! How can the FAM take root without the support of the majority of its members? FIFA itself assures us, through their 2006 Big Count, that the Maldives can boast 60 active football clubs within it's territory.
I would like to see the candidates declare their position on the question of the excluded majority. I would like to see them state their commitment to right this wrong as an election promise. Should the 11 clubs vote with the candidate who stays silent on the exclusion of the majority, let these 11 clubs beware, the majority are watching you!
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6 comments:
From what you have mentioned no one is eligible?
But here we got to choose from either one of them ...
As you said it's behind us now! whats ahead of us to identify who is capable from these two coz they only have the guts to get in the race?
When u talk about vision, why dun you talk about interests ...
What would be azims interest to lead FAM?
What would kaleems interest to lead FAM?
will it be a political interest or the passion for the game ... these are questions which has to be answered by the voting 11 clubs as the destiny of football is in the hands of this 11 clubs.
I would not know what the candidates interests are. They have to declare their interests in the shape of an election manifesto. I believe the leader will be the one who would promise to re-unite the FAM with its membership. The candidate who will ensure "Fair Play"
The eligible candidate will be the one who's interests are aligned with majority interests. It is not logical that a mere eleven "eligible" voters will discount a candidate who is bold enough to propose re-uniting the Association with it's vaste membership. We need a FAIR PLAY candidate!
Football like some other big sports in our country, has been strangled by infighting between administrators, administrators and players and clubs and clubs. I am skeptical that any good will come out from elections if these basic problem is not remedied. Football needs someone who will create solidarity between all stakeholder, someone with vision and foresight. Someone willing to forgo their past for the good of the game.
Even though our sports have been centrally controlled, a lot of associations have achieved quite a lot because of leadership and solidarity. What others have lacked is these basic things.
The issue of voting rights is a legitimate one. I can't understand how the biggest sports in the country can have one of the smallest electorate.
Good luck to both candidates. It is good to have an elected President answerable to members. Kaleem, in my view has the experience in all aspects of football as a player, coach, in management, match analysis on TV etc.
The number of eligible voting members determine the stature of a Sports Federation. That is why FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) proudly claims to be a bigger organisation than FIFA!! Similarly FAM falls way behind Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) who had 21 elegible voters, while 2 of them lost their voting rights due to non-payment of annual fees, still got 19 eligible voting clubs compared to a almost laughable 11 voting member clubs in FAM!! Eat your heart out, football fans of Maldives!!!
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