Building a realistic and democratic governance- the role of African clubs and federations

By Emmanuel Baa-Aboagye, Solar FM
Democracy is a philosophy that has come to be accepted by civil society groups including but not limited to businesses, churches and other endeavours in life and football is no exception to this phenomenon.

Over the years, democratic principles have been deepened as far as European football is concerned and the evidence is clear for all to see. In Africa, the reverse has been the case. Although, there seems to be an attempt made in this direction, there has also been an equal measure of stagnation as far as thrusting democracy into a more responsible role is concerned. Could there ever be a way out of this kind of self-imposed incarceration? Of course yes and only if there is a calculated re-think and a shift in paradigm relative to how administrators of club football on the African clubs act.

I quite remember how in Europe, the G-14 became a novel idea though not entirely embraced by the European football governing body, UEFA and strengthened clubs' participation in shaping decisions that boarded on the clubs. Indeed, it must be emphasized that the G-14, made up of clubs that had won not less than 250 national league titles among them, and 41 European cups or the UEFA Champions League titles out of more than 48 seasons. By virtue of this, these clubs took absolute advantage of the power they wielded and ensured that they would not be ordered around or pushed over. More or less, the G-14 could well be described as a kind of pilot project or a litmus test towards the formation of a larger group that would later be recognized by UEFA and influence decisions taken by UEFA.

Undoubtedly, the G-14, prior to its metamorphosis, as a body, had made significant and mammoth inroads. This body has been the mouthpiece of most European clubs and to a greater extent, most football associations and clubs on the African continent, notably its fight for a fair share of all accruals born out of FIFA World Cups for clubs that would release their players to participate in such competitions and also the ground breaking compensation agreement reached with UEFA and FIFA to the effect that clubs are duly paid specific amount of monies to cater for player injuries sustained during FIFA and UEFA organized competitions.

The European Clubs' Association since its inception in 2008 has built on the success of its predecessor to create a new, more democratic governance model that truly reflects the key role of the clubs. The ECA has markedly improved on the milestone of the G-14, including its active participation at the European Union level and it is evidently obvious for all to see. Through its influence, UEFA agreed in 2008 to allot to every national football association, an amount of money, to be forwarded to all clubs that would contribute to the immense success of the European Championships after every European Championship, with the upcoming EURO 2016 in France set to distribute an amount of €150m. It is indeed obvious that the decision to do this was not taken exclusive of democracy. The ECA has also reached agreement with UEFA in the areas of International Match Calendar, Insurance for Players' Salaries, Governance, among others. The UEFA Financial Fair Play policy was not reached at without the input of these clubs and this further adds impetus to the democracy that exists in European Football governance.

Clubs in Europe do not play  passive roles as far as football governance is concerned and it is for this reason that every policy geared towards the clubs are vigorously debated on before its implementation. The winner of the 2015/2016 UEFA Champions League would eventually rake in a whooping amount of between â‚¬50m to €54.5m from 'Fixed Amount' pot plus Market pool money which can easily elevate total earnings of winners from England, Spain, Germany or Italy around â‚¬100 million (prize money + market pool)

What amount awaits the eventual winner of the CAF Champions League? Is it not sickening to read that the CAF Champions League is the second richest club competition (US$1 million on offer to the winners and US$750,000 to the losing finalist,) after the ABSA Premiership (Premiership worth $2 million)?

It is at this juncture that my heart bleeds and cries for the development of the sport on the African continent. African football has seen phenomenal football brands such as Al Ahly, ASEC Mimosa, Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, AshGold SC, TP Mazembe, Esperance du Tunis, Zamalek, Raja Casablanca, Canon Yaoundé, Enyimba, JS Kabylie, ES Setif, Etoile du Sahel, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, among others, that can equally lead the crusade for the formation of a model but very powerful force to reckon with the  Confederation of African Football against some of its choking and suffocating decisions that are 'undemocratically' imposed on the clubs on the continent. It is clear from the foregoing that clubs and member nations are only playing in the CAF inter-clubs' and other competitions for fun and for the avoidance of punishment but not for business and purpose.

The administrators of the afore-mentioned clubs and the various national football associations must rise and coherently work to push for this positive agenda to be established. One thing that football administrators on the continent have excelled in doing has been their unrepentant desire and unflinching show of support for the Issa Hayatou-led administration much to the detriment of the clubs and national associations. Quite sadly the reposition of confidence in Issa Hayatou has not met the needed appreciation in terms of beneficial initiatives and drives.

The formation of a model force should seek not to purge CAF back but among other things, seek to vigorously pursue the agitations of the various national football associations and football brands on the continent and illicit a favourable response from the powers that be. Undoubtedly, Africa abounds in talented football managerial brains but unfortunately their know-hows have not been actively and fully tapped. The likes of Abedi Ayew Pele, Kalusha Bwalya, Rabba Madjah, Roger Milla, Nwankwo Kanu, Tony Yeboah, Tony Baffoe, George Weah, Jay Jay Okocha, Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe are but only a few of such football personalities I am referring to.

A model African Clubs Association should strive to liaise with CAF in the areas of sponsorships, marketing and business. The days where clubs and member associations partake in the CAF-organized competitions at a loss should gradually be over. In this regard, clubs should be allotted justifiable, appreciable and worthy amount of monies that would accrue to CAF from such competitions. CAF, cognizant of the existence of such a body, would always negotiate for deals that would have the ultimate interests of its members in mind.

African football can only rival that of Europe if and only if specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound measures are instituted and monitored effectively. It took the ingenuity of David Dein, Jean Michel Aulas, Karl Heinze Rummenigge, David Gill, Joan Laporta, John McClelland, Umberto Gandini, Peter Kenyon etc to push for the formation of the G-14 before it metamorphosed into the European Club Association.

The continent's past footballers and national federations must vigorously and strongly pursue this agenda to liberate our sinking football from the doldrums. The fight would not be easy but I believe with a tenacity of purpose and intent, we can make significant progress in this direction.

The task of bearing the torch looks quite arduous but let us all strive to place African football on a higher pedestal. African Club

administrators act on the continent.
Can you and I make a change? YES, we can!!
A word to the wise………….!!!!