TFF officials leave Dar for FIFA polls

The country’s delegates comprise TFF president Jamal Malinzi, secretary general Celestine Mwesigwa and Vice-president Wallace Karia left for the congress yesterday.

Recently, Mwesigwa said Tanzania will abide by Confederation of African Football (CAF) directive that all its members should vote for Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa who is also the president of Asia Football Confederation (AFC).

Many football loving people suggest that the election is a two-horse race between Sheikh Salman and Italian Glanni Infantino.

Speaking in a telephone interviews yesterday ahead of boarding a flight to Switzerland, Mwesigwa said he does not know who the country voter (TFF President Jamal Malinzi) will vote for at the polls as elections are always confidential.

He said voting at Fifa is through a secret ballot and winning candidates will be decided through two-thirds majority or 138 votes after the first round and if no candidate garners the two-thirds, those attaining a simple majority in the next round of voting will get the world football top seat.

Mwesigwa said TFF like many African countries agreed with CAF instruction on principal but they will vote for a person who will develop football.

He said Fifa elections will be a turning point for restoring the battered image of the body which recently has been involved in many malpractices.

“Its president who will vote for Tanzania as it is stipulated in Fifa statutes that one country one vote, I do not know whom he will vote for as you know elections are always confidential but for sure the country vote will go to a credible person that sponsors and football fraternity can trust” he said.

He said today they will be a CAF meeting in Zurich and Saturday FIFA congress while on Sunday it will be the Election Day.
The Fifa congress will also pass a wide range of reforms, including presidential term limits.

The Fifa race is among Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa (Bahrain), Gianni Infantino (Italy), Tokyo Sexwale (South Africa), Jerome Champagne (France) and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (Jordan).

The presidential candidates are high-profile. Sheikh Salman is also Fifa executive committee member, whereas Infantino is Uefa general secretary.

Sexwale is a business guru, Champagne (former Fifa deputy general secretary), and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (Jordan FA boss and former Fifa executive member).

Infantino has, in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, the most backing from the 54-member Uefa.
The Fifa congress will also pass a wide range of reforms, including presidential term limits. All the 207 member states have one vote each.