The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino proposed a Super League for solely top men clubs in Africa dubbed a “pan-African league” at their just ended 43rd CAF General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco. According to him that could possibly generate revenue of $3 billion over five years.
“I want to create a real pan-African league that would feature 20-24 clubs with a maximum of maybe two clubs per country that would still play in their national leagues but that would play during the year so we can really crown the club champions of Africa. Let us show the world what we can do. This day is special. It’s the start of a new chapter for African football.”-he stated.
Former Hearts of Oak star and now a member of the club’s technical team, Esme Mends has said African cannot be used as an experimental ground for European Super League. Esme Mends in an interview with ghanasportspage.com vehemently opposes the decision by FIFA which he described as “deviation of Principle.
Mends is of a strong view that the project is in contradiction with FIFA’s own principles and if it cannot work for the mega clubs in Europe, it cannot work for Africa.
“Why would you as a FIFA president shoot down this same proposal the big clubs in Europe are trying to do but wants to implement it in Africa?. Is a total deviation of your (FIFA) own principles. We should talk about it. We should oppose it. Anytime they impose things on Africans because of the small benefits we get from them.” Speaking exclusively to ghanasportspage.com
“Even the established clubs, the Manchester United’s, Real Madrid have been opposed in the implementation of the Super league, the money-making clubs. How much more of African Clubs.”
The promising football scout believes strongly that the super league in Africa could create a serious gap between the richer teams and the less-richer ones.
“If Kotoko and Hearts get into the Super League, what happens to Liberty Professionals and the rest? How would they make money?
He questioned, Why FIFA president Gianni Infantino will oppose to a similar proposal in Europe but implement in Africa.
It could be recalled a few days ago FIFA President warned the 12 teams involved in Super League breakaway plans to expect “consequences” for their actions, with members of the European elite, told they “cannot be half in or half out”.
Hinging on this, Former Accra Hearts of Oak player actualized that Africa cannot be used as an experimental ground for European Super League.
According to him, stakeholders in Africa football most especially the bigger clubs in African in the likes of Al Aly, Asante Kotoko, Enugu Rangers, Accra Hearts of Oak, Zamalek, and co should unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans for the proposed competition before it sees the light of time.
He added that, though it will improve the financial standings of the participating clubs if accepted but will only benefit only the already well financed clubs at the expense of the less financed clubs.
More power would have been handed to the biggest clubs in exchange for a large financial compensation package and a greater share of revenues that will be generated hence making the game monopolized and unattractive.
He was quick to add that no club in Ghana is bigger than Accra Hearts of Oak and therefore if the Africa Super league should come to reality Accra Hearts of Oak will be the first club to be selected to participate.
Currently, CAF organizes the Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup for lower-ranked teams.
