After months of stubbornly hanging onto his coveted seat, Fifa President Sepp Blatter finally agreed to step down. But this was not until a worldwide outcry greeted his re-election last week. He was always going to find it difficult to serve a fifth term in office.
For good measure, Blatter gave special attention to African countries from where he drew plenty of support to sustain his stay in the world’s most powerful sporting organisation.
Blatter, who was first elected Fifa President in 1998, initiated a Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) that saw millions of shillings paid out to African football associations annually.
However, for most associations, there is little to show for the millions of shillings, which are more often than not used to line the pockets of officials. Behind the philanthropy to African associations, Blatter hid a dark side of Fifa.
From the sale of bids for World Cups to other vices, Fifa House had a lot going on.
Despite all these atrocities, the 79 year-old-Swiss remained stoically stubborn, insisting on a fifth term, and it had to take the intervention of the FBI, who arrested top Blatter associates, to loosen his grip on the association.
It has since emerged that Blatter was also under probe by US authorities.
Back home, the shock resignation of Blatter was greeted with disbelief. Clearly, the writing is on the wall for local officials.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections are scheduled for November this year and with all the bad publicity surrounding the management of the sport locally, it would be prudent for the current officials to step aside and allow new people come on board.
