July, 2021 -

News

17 Jul 2021 tundeadelakun20

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2021….HOW LEGENDS CAN BE MADE

The African Champions League is our own flagship competition, It might have a lot of issues when we go into matters like television broadcast, prose money, travel and logistics, feasibility and viability, but point remains….it is what we have, and we must do what we can to show pride and encourage those who still have the wherewithal to remain in it as competitors.
It is not easy.
So when the final of the competition beckons, we have to be excited. Because it is the biggest game in the African football calendar especially for the clubs involved, and their players.
This year, the final is between South African club Kaizer Chiefs and perennial winners Al Ahly FC of Egypt
Al Ahly won the last edition of the competition last year and it was its ninth time of triumph. Al Ahly has produced many legends in the African game, who shone in this competition over the years.
Who will forget the legend of Essam El-Hadary, the ageless goalkeeper who had 159 caps for Egypt and featured for Ahly for over 300 games? He played for Egypt till he was the grand age of 45, and even in a World Cup match.
We also remember one of the best midfield players who never bothered to leave the shores of Africa to play – Mohamed Aboutrika, also a legend of Al Ahly.

This is a club where legends are made, and are being handled by someone who was voted not long ago to be the 10th best coach in the world – South African Pitso Mosimane.
Will he join the increasing band of legends?
Standing in the way of the Egyptian lords is the South African team, Kaizer Chiefs. A team rich in history and tradition with a huge following around the world, it will be a remarkable achievement for them to win the trophy on July 17.
Founded 51 years ago with a huge retinue of triumphs on national and international scene (they won the Africa Cup winners Cup in 2001), Amakhosi must be feeling like their time has come.
They boast former stars and legends in the game like Lucas Radebe and the unforgettable Siphiwe Tshabalala who scored the first ever World Cup goal on African soil in 2010.
The battle line is drawn and the game is on July 17. It is a stage set in Mohamed V Stadium Casablanca, Morocco – a stage where potential legends will be made (or existing legends reconfirmed)!

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4 Jul 2021 tundeadelakun20

HALL OF FAME NAMES ADVISORY BOARD

The first task of the African Football Hall of Fame was to name an advisory board – a selection of like minds who have traversed the continent, covering and knowing more and gathering more information about the game in Africa. Seasoned veterans and active people who live and breathe the game, and behind whom no important information or detail on African football – past or present – will pass.

The role of the board is to vet and assess the choices made by voters on people worthy of selection to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Through our social media handles and by direct contact, we will entertain polls of the public on who we might have missed out on, and who is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame. These votes and choices will be assessed by our Advisory Board. Our Advisory Board will also be responsible for determine venues of induction events, and will most times be spokespersons for the Project, when the need arises. So who are the members of this esteemed Board?

Our Pioneer members are:

Tunde Adelakun – President/Chief Executive of Pride of Africa (incorporating the African Football Hall of Fame)

Osasu Obayiuwana (Nigeria) – a veteran journalist with vast experience working with BBC Sport and an international football commentator

Aliou Goloko(Senegal) – A well known and well travelled media practitioner who has been a part and parcel of the African Football Hall of Fame concept from inception in 2011

Mark Gleeson(South Africa) – A respected football journalist and commentator. Reputed to have the most complete set of records on African football in existence. The official archivist for African football in FIFA, an asset to the Hall of Fame project.

Inas Mahzer (Egypt) – Inas is well informed on the past and present of African football. She is the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Al Ahram newspapers in Egypt, as well as the Communications Manager of the Egypt national football team

Hope Chizuzu(Zimbabwe) – Hope Chizuzu is a multiple award-winning investigative sports journalist who has covered football, cricket, rugby and sports politics with distinction for many years. A strong critic against corruption in football and a strategic communications expert

Nuhu Adams(Ghana) – Very well travelled football journalist, calls himself the ‘modern Ghana football journalist, very passionate about African football especially the local game – an asset to this project

Usher Komugisha(Uganda) – African Football Journalist who covers the game for SuperSport TV as well as telling sports stories on the continent for Al Jazeera and BBC. Usher is also a Basketball Writer for FIBA. An active globetrotter and the dame of African football coverage. Usher lives and breathes African football.

Christophe Bongo(DR Congo) – former football player, played for Hannover in Germany and for DR Congo, also a qualified chemical engineer and now a football analyst and a compere. Was part of the group that created the first-ever African Footballer of the Year awards before CAF took it over. Brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Maher Mezahi(Algeria) – Sports journalist, columnist on France Football Weekly, together with Inas, a depth of experience and knowledge in North African football, but with wider interests in the continent as a whole.

Frank Simon (France) – A French journalist who has been covering African football for 30 years; working for l’Equippe, RFI (Radio France International) and Canal + Afrique; he has travelled the world covering and reporting on African football and has a vast knowledge of the game and its history in Africa. A truly naturalised African with a passion for the sport and well known to many legends of the game.

News

4 Jul 2021 tundeadelakun20

AFRICAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME – A PROJECT REBORN

We had it in 2011, joined up with CAF in 2012 and launched in 2013. It is the African Football Hall of Fame – project designed to keep a mark of honour, fame and recognition to the people who put African football on the global map through their exploits, on and off the field.
Then it went to sleep, for many reasons.
But we are back, and this time, for good!
We are determined to keep the project and to actually award individuals – worthy individuals Hall of Fame status in African football.

These are the words of Founder/Chief Executive of the project, ‘Tunde Adelakun;
“There are so many of us here that can say – African football made us – and we owe it to the practitioners of the game, past and present, to recognise them, and keep their places in history, that generations unborn do not forget them.
“We will celebrate the many players who put African football on the world map. We will recognise and award coaches, referees and administrators who have made Africa proud. And we will keep a place in history for those that always thought Africa first in their dealings in the face of adversity.

“We will conduct programs and activities that will be geared towards ensuring that none of our African pride and heroes will be left alone to go through hard times. And we will also, through the Hall of Fame Foundation, provide avenues for capacity building and infrastructure development for any part of Africa that needs support”.
There is more on this to come. Keep on following.
We are working, committed to the good of the game of football….in Africa!