Motsepe is no one's puppet - CAF GS

Motsepe is no one's puppet - CAF GS

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba has laughed off suggestions that CAF President Patrice Motsepe is the puppet of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 

Mosengo-Omba, previously a Chief Member Associations Officer at FIFA and also a former schoolmate of Infantino at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, says to those who know Motsepe, he cannot be a puppet to anyone. 

Motsepe, who is now in his second year as the CAF head, has faced criticism in some sections of the continent - mainly those opposed to Infantino and his alleged œmeddling in African football matters.

"I mean, if you were me, maybe you can say yes. But how could Patrice Motsepe be the puppet of someone? It's impossible. A puppet to do what? A lot of people don't know Patrice Motsepe - I'm telling you, he can be a puppet to no one," Mosengo-Omba told SABC Sport.

"I mean, he has to work with [Infantino] as the vice president of FIFA, they have to work together. Is Patrice a puppet because he respects the rules? You're a puppet because you're a good friend of the FIFA president?

"Even if he is to be a puppet, ok, we are puppets because I respect you and I respect the rules. No. These are just people with bad faith, that's it."

Mosengo-Omba further adds that the South African mining mogul has redirected close to R30-million in bonuses due to him, from both FIFA and CAF, to African and women™s football in particular, because his focus is on giving back to football on the continent.

"You know, it's amazing, when [Motsepe] was a candidate, people were saying, 'It's too much, he has a lot of businesses and he will not have time for football.' We have a two-hour call every day or more [than once]," he added.

"Once I told him, 'You are putting more time in football than in your business. You will be in trouble with your business.' So, the point I'm making is that he's fully dedicated to football.

"Do you know that he's such a sacrificial person, he declined to receive a per diem from FIFA, he put it into CAF stuff. He has a right to get it as a FIFA vice president and CAF president but he declined it and gives it to CAF and the CAF staff."

By Velile Mnyandu