Ghana’s Pele Backs Hayatou
|
Former Ghana international Abedi Pele has thrown his weight behind the re-election of Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou, saying continuity is what the continent needs now.
Hayatou will stand unopposed for another term in charge, having headed the organisation since 1988, and Pele says that with the 2010 World Cup on the horizon, the experience of Hayatou will prove invaluable.
"The reason why I'm supporting him is that I want a peaceful Africa, and I don't want CAF to be having power struggles when we have the World Cup in South Africa," Pele told BBC Sport.
"I know how we suffered to get the World Cup to this continent - for the past 10 years we've been working so hard and I don't want this hard work to have been in vain."
The Black Stars legend, a three-time African Footballer of the Year, is also an official ambassador for the 2010 World Cup.
He has a chequered history with Hayatou after backing Sepp Blatter against the Cameroonian in the FIFA presidency elections in 2002.
