African federations need professionals, says FIFA

By Tony Ubani, in South Africa
Nigeria and indeed other African countries have been told to step up their administration of football, if the game is to grow in the continent.

Fifa boss

FIFA director of development, Thierry Regenass said professional management of the game in Africa was often lacking.
“Professionalism is an essential aspect to create the basis for the future,” he told a news briefing in Johannesburg.

“We need to invest in not infrastructure but grassroots, youth and professional leagues. This is our objective over the next years because it is through this aspect we will have vibrant national teams.”

According to Regenass FIFA has spent a total of $39-million on building artificial turf fields in 48 countries with three more still to be completed. It said it had also spent a further $14,5-million on training and equipment for African countries in a special development programme, first implemented in 2006.

Each African country also receives an annual grant of $250 000 from Fifa but Regenass said some diverse sources of income were needed if the African game was to grow.

“In Africa, there are usually two sources of income. The government puts money into the national team and Fifa with its financial assistance programme. There needs to be diversified sources of income to development African football,” he said.

“There is a strong need for a better youth championships and for the national leagues, which are the heartbeat of football in Africa.”