Segun Odegbami Declares Interest In FIFA’s Presidency

Segun Odegbami

African ace football legend and one of the greatest Nigerian players of all time, Segun Odegbami, has declared his interest run for the presidency of the world football governing body, FIFA.

Mr Odegbami made his interest known in a statement released on Tuesday by his campaign team.

The election is scheduled to take place on the February 26, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland.

The position of the President of FIFA is now vacant since the current President, Sepp Blatter, resigned his appointment in June 2015.

New Era Of Leadership

According to Mr Odegbami, also known as ‘Mathematical Odegbami’, a label he was given because of his masterful exhibition of engineered dribbles, technical control of the ball and goal-scoring skills during his footballing era, “the current scandal at FIFA is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence.

“Moving forward, FIFA thus require a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport and that of this esteemed international institution with global followership”.

Odegbami believed that “to address the issue will demand that FIFA purges itself, launders its image, restores its reputation and reinstates integrity into its activities and operations”. this he said would require a new form of leadership with a renewed vision.

He said: “Times like this call for all concerned members of the global football family to contribute to the actualisation of renewed objectives for FIFA by electing a deserving and qualified person, with the right character that can achieve the desired goals and restore confidence and integrity to the organization and its activities. The world is very interested in who becomes the next President of FIFA, considering the present image and state of this institution and I see myself fitting into this role”.

A statement by the spokesman for his campaign team, Dr. Ade Adeagbo, said Odegbami had already conveyed his intention to the Nigeria Football Federation, as required by the electoral guidelines and FIFA Statutes, as well as to the Federal Government seeking their support.

“The process for the attainment of the position of President of FIFA is a long and tedious journey, which Segun Odegbami is prepared to travel,” the statement read.

Mr Odegbami also sought the support and prayers of all Nigerians, the African continent and the whole world.

The deadline for candidates to formally present their nominations through their home football federations, with other supporting documents, is October 26 October 2015.

Candidates will also undergo an integrity test, through FIFA’s ad-hoc election committee.

Source: Channels