African football legend Kalusha Bwalya believes it is too early for Luis Figo to challenge Sepp Blatter for the presidency of football’s world governing body Fifa.
Bwalya, the Zambia Football Association president as well as an executive member of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) says the Portuguese star should first learn the ropes before vying for world football’s top job.
“I think Luis Figo was a fantastic player, a world-class player,” Bwalya told BBC Sport.
“I would have loved to see Luis Figo go into the Portuguese football association, to learn the ropes and then come out.
“There are other former footballers, like Davor Suker, who’s heading an association in Europe [Croatia].
“It’s the logical way but he [Figo] has decided to go for the big position. It’s going to be very difficult in my opinion.”
Bwalya, the 1988 African Footballer of the Year award winner, said most of the associations have already decided who they will vote for the Fifa presidency.
He said Africa has decided to back Blatter for another four year term despite the Swiss having been at the helm since 1998.
“We as Africa – myself included – have said we will back Blatter for another term because he has the requisite and passion to carry football in the next four years,” Bwalya said.
“From where we’re standing, it would have been better for him [Figo] to start at association level to know the challenges. He would have been better prepared.
“In this situation we have made a commitment to president Sepp Blatter. We are happy with the way he has run things.”
Figo, 42, a former world player of the year and ex-Barcelona and Real Madrid superstar is one of the three candidates that have announced their intentions to challenge Blatter in May.
Others are Dutch federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
On whether he himself would consider running for either the Caf or Fifa presidency, Bwalya laughed off any immediate plans.
“Everything in its time.
“I think we have good leaders in Issa Hayatou and Sepp Blatter.”
By Kennedy Gondwe BBC Sport, Lusaka
Okay, this game of football is more like chess game
Pupet
Ama jealous ba kalu.we know you,did you start from chairing mighty mufulila then Faz?support your friend not ifikote naimwe
Kalu might one day be the president of CAF. He just has to keep his cool. This would be good for southern Africa
Birds of the same feathers fly together. Not surprisingly here corruption written all over this guy.
oho john,kalu cant handle even zambia and how much more the entire africa? wait! is it not this kalu whom you guys called pathetic,or they are twins?
John with his dreams…Kalu that he is busy calling names is now good for caf and not zambia
With all due respect Kalu is right on this one. To win the FIFA presidency you need the backing of confederations. Had Figo succeeded in getting UEFA and South America behind him he’d have had a good chance. As things stand, I hate to say Blatter has a free way.
Having said that, you get the feeling that for all his shortcomings on the local scene, Kalu is bound to lead CAF soon or later!
No surprise here, especially coming from a man who thinks Issa Hayatou is good leader!