FIJI Football Association president Rajesh Patel is bad for football in the country.
Former Fijian footballer Sylvester Joseph made the claim and that has become a hot topic of discussion on social media.
The national and treble district, Rewa, Suva and Nadi footballer says as football head, Patel lacks football knowledge and has taken the sport to a new low.
“Is Patel the best football mind in the country?, then it’s a joke,” said Joseph.
“The leadership should ‘let go of what no longer serves them’.”
Joseph said following Patel’s 2011, election he said he would only serve for two terms and stand down.
“Patel has served for three terms and under OFC laws he could remain at the helm until 2031, now does Fiji need a failure of three terms to lead the organization for another 8-years.
“What good has come out of his leadership, Okay, U20 qualifies for the FIFA-U20 World Cup in Argentina and then gets beat to a pulp, 9-0 to Ecuador,4-0 to Slovakia and 3-0 to USA.”
Joseph said the men’s national team finds it hard to beat island Nation teams and it is reflection on bad training and development of the sport.
For Patel, it’s all about personal records. Another self serving president,” said Joseph.
Joseph said Patel’s executives are among who tend to hold onto power longer than necessary.
Club football
Joseph said under Patel’s leadership club football has taken a beating and with 6 club’s participating during this year’s National Club Championship is clear indication club football is literally dead.
“The sanity of club football is the cornerstone of football training and development in the country, without it there’s just no raw talent.”
“The pure ignorance of FFA toward club football have them starve on talent and as much as they harp about their development the standard and the performance of the national team’s are before the fans.
Joseph said the FFA has eliminated the club’s power to select district officials, they nominate hand-picked district officials that are strategically placed for votes during the election.
“The president and CEO control who the executives are.
“They realized that the clubs had the most power so they eliminated that by way of formulating a constitution that would serve them.”
Ex-reps made silent
The Vancouver, Canada resident said former footballers who once held strong views about the development and standard of football have chosen not to go against the grain and it’s a sad reality.
He said some have become FFA appeasers following their induction into Legends Club.
“We former footballers served our clubs, district and the country with absolute honour, we don’t need to fan our praise or cheap out on some recognition, we need to call a spade a spade.
“We must call out the establishment, as football belongs to the people, the fans and not to the power that be,” added Joseph.
Joseph said with just 6 clubs’ at this year’s National Club Championship is a good measure of where the club football is headed.
“Club football is on cusp of dying and if the trend continues it will not be long before it meets its fate.”
