OPINION: Tokyo: I told you so

Add as a preferred source on Google

I know that when I penned the comment on Tokyo Sexwale’s Fifa presidential ambitions, many might have wanted to skin me alive – believing I was being too harsh on the man.

But the truth, no matter how painful it is, has to and must be told. And that’s precisely what I did on chameleon Tokyo.

I am happy that I have been vindicated, as in his meeting with South African Football Association (Safa), the honourable Sexwale was told in no uncertain terms that he must call off his campaign, as no one in the football fraternity at home and in Africa, including other parts of the world, supported him in his ambitions of ascendency to football’s most influential job.

It’s not that people don’t like Sexwale but it’s his hunger for power that bewilders many, and makes them sceptical of the man and his intentions.

In football circles, Sexwale is considered an outsider as he has never been a member of any football association or administration, not even as a player.

There are people who have made this the beautiful game that it is – both in administration and as players or club owners, some who have contributed their own resources to be successful in the industry – and they will not allow an outsider just to come in and become president of a world football governing body without going through the ranks.

I am sure his own comrades in the ANC just didn’t have the guts like I did to suggest that ‘comrade you’re now jumping the gun with your lust for power’. I am sure, nonentity as I am, Sexwale never took my advice and that of Safa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as the football governing body on the continent, seriously.

Caf didn’t mince its words when they told Sexwale where their votes would be going come 26 February. A stone-faced Sexwale had seemed to think his political clout in SA was going to carry him through, but it has all collapsed right before his very eyes.

I had put my neck on the block and said Tokyo would never be able to even garner a single vote from Caf. Danny Jordaan is in a better position to know that. If that snub at home and on our continent does not swell an overwhelming tide to persuade him to call it off, then let him be shamed on 26 February.

I know he is one of those doubting Thomases who thinks seeing is believing and wants to see the no-votes in order to believe. Tokyo seems to think a miracle will happen in Zurich, the headquarters of the world football governing body, on 26 February.