ACTUALITE |
06.05.2002
``The entire nation is standing by me`` Issa Hayatou candidate for the presidency of the FIFA.
*Your campaign is one month old, how far have you gone ?
As far as my campaign is concerned, I had announced my candidature since the 16th of last month and after this, I have effectively started my campaign but before the beginning of this campaign, I have already criss-crossed some countries. As you know when I declared my campaign it was less than 70 days to the event. It is a world election involving 204 countries. So it is out of question that an individual should make a tour of all these countries. Even if he has a special aircraft he cannot tour the whole world in 70 days. My friend and myself divided the campaign around the world. My European friends are taking care of European federation, my friends in African football confederation are taking care of Africa. We had to divide Africa into six regions; there are two per region. My friends from Asia are taking care of the Asian region. Actually the President of the Asian region is Chung Mong Joon who is also vice-president of FIFA. That is how we partitioned the campaign. As for what concerns me now is to visit the continent of Africa because as I said before, my base is Africa. It is in Africa that I must have the maximum votes. That is the reason why my adversaries are also visiting Africa because they absolutely want to lobby for the African votes. I am still left with about twenty countries that I will visit in the thirty days that are remaining. And presently other lobbyists visiting Africa can continue their campaign without any problems. WE have also despatched a team to Central America and the Caribbean and this team has just given us a report that as of today they have already visited thirty countries in the Caribbean. They will have a little break before going to north America and central America. So everything is moving in good condition but we are waiting as usual for the final results by May 29.
*What is your response to the argument of some former African stars that you have no programme for them ?
I wonder if Blatter has included them in his programme. They are veterans as compared to whom ? I am older than all of them whether Milla, Bell, Abedi Pele etc. When they were playing I was already Secretary General ; so they are not veterans. The notion of veteran is very large. Why don`t we talk of Atangana Ottu., Abessolo, etc. They are free to do whatever they are doing but they should not try to drown the fish. I cannot go and unite all the veterans in Africa to tell them that I am a candidate for Fifa. First of all to be a candidate, I had to tell the Head of state and if the decision to run for this office delayed, it was not appropriate for me to call people and tell people I am a candidate. Those who are supporting me today were not informed before. They have their reason that I would not want to know but let detractors continue bur they should not say that we have not associated the veterans. They are not veterans. I am older than them. They are not the only ones who have played football. Africa counts millions who are ex-footballers. I could not unite the millions of footballers to tell them. IT does not worry me if they continue to support Blatter. It is life. All what I am telling them is that we will all live in this country till the end of our days. But what they are doing may turn out to be a disgrace because Blatter my change his telephone number after May 29.
*Any obstacles so far ?
I have told you, my adversaries have the spirit of dividing the votes of the African continent because they know that it is here they can weaken me. They met in Libya under the invitation of the President of the Libyan Football Federation. He invited some twenty federations in Tripoli under an illusive agenda because it had to do with the development of football in Africa at the level of women and children. While in Tripoli the federation President were surprised to discover that it was a campaign. However, the majority of them refused to sign the accord. Those who signed insisted on the agenda refusing digression to a football campaign. AS for what concerns, us it is an obstacle but it is a failure at the same time. It is a reality that we have to see it in the face because if a financial force like Libya can be against you it is enough cause for concern. But however it was a fiasco.
*What will Cameroon benefit from your election as FIFA President ?
I am a candidate for FIFA election so it is for the whole world. I cannot tell what I will do for Cameroon but what I know is that I will do what I can to help those countries that are not able to fulfil the obligation of development of football in their respective countries. I cannot talk about Cameroon, France etc. but all I know is that every region will benefit from these realities according to the possibilities and my country is one of those countries that are not yet well structured. It can reap some benefits just as the Italian Football Federation or any other federation in the world.
*Are you satisfied with the position of the government vis-à-vis your candidature ?
I am not surprised that you asked me this question because many newspapers have said that Cameroon was not informed about my candidature. I don`t know where they got that information. I will remind you that I was the Director of Sports for this country. I know what is administration. I could not have approached an election like that of the FIFA without the knowledge and consent of my government. Already for the CAF election I still located myself with the Cameroon government how much more that of FIFA ? The President of the Republic was the first person to whom I sent a correspondence informing him of intention to run for FIFA´high office. I am not an irresponsible man. I am telling you that the government of Cameroon is one hundred percent behind me beginning with the President of the Republic himself. All what was supposed to be done has been done. I am very happy to know that the entire nation is standing behind me. I am greatly honoured by that.
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