Football consultant Ponga Liwewe believes new FIFA president Gianni Infantino has a huge task to fulfill his campaign promises following his election on Friday.
Infantino triumphed over Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, in the second round of voting by 115 votes to 88.
One of Infantino’s campaign promises include expanding the World Cup b eight teams to 40.
Ponga said Infantino should speedily facilitate the implementation of new FIFA reforms to restore the credibility of football across the World.
“I have to say it looks like a surprise win for Gianni Infantino.
Obviously with the alliance between the Asian Football Confederation and CAF in support of Sheikh Salman, the the belief was that the alliance was enough to put Sheikh Salman in the driving seat,” Liwewe told Kitwe’s Radio Icengelo on Monday.
“Obviously he has a lot to fulfil in-terms of promises that he made during campaign. One of them to increase the number of World Cup teams to 40 which I think is quiet contentious and there will still be a lot of debates before it happens,” he said.
Liwewe added:”Also to increase financial support to poorer national associations but you also have to consider that FIFA is not in the best of financial positions following the withdraw of sponsorship.
And of course the need to implement the reforms that are needed to restore the credibility of football across the World.”
FAZ backed Sheikh Salman before the FIFA election in Zurich.
Increasing financial support to associations is surely not the answer; how can a Football Association not make a profit in the most popular and lucrative sport in World…take the example of FAZ, no accountability or transparency whatsoever even if you tripled support they would still be dependent on taxpayers funds.
FIFA is really in trouble – from a corrupt old man to an INFANT, awe sure!!!!
The Sheikh was done a donchi kubeba just like happened to Issa Hayatou in 2002.