African countries must stamp out mistreatment of visiting teams

CAF regulations regarding African Nations Cup qualifying matches say that a host nation must see off a visiting team: “Officials of the host association will see the visiting team off and will facilitate all formalities for it,” says Article 7, 7.4 (f).

Harambee Stars played Guinea in the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifier in Conakry on October 12. The following day, no Guinea FA officials escorted the Kenyan team to Gbessian Airport.

The Kenyans, without a local guide, were misdirected to a wrong departure lounge and by the time they discovered the anomaly, they had missed their flight out of the country. For 16 members of the contingent, extended stay and additional expenses in Conakry became the now well documented distressing experience the team had in Guinea.

The Kenyans now say they wish to expose the “notoriously shameful conduct of Guinean hosts in World Cup and African Nations ties.”

They are citing relevant Fifa and CAF rules which the Guineans have not only been accused of breaking in the past but appeared to have gone too far in that direction during the concluded round of the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifiers. Key sufferers were Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia who were in Guinea’s Group 2 of the qualifiers.

Kenya are making estimates of additional costs of staying in Guinea — which they say was caused by Guinea FA’s neglect – and demand compensation as the CAF regulations provide.

Just over a week ago, before the draw of the final round of qualifiers was made in Zurich, a Kenyan official had said: “Even if we do not end up in the same group as Guinea for the final round, this (complaint) will at least help the other national teams who may be in the same group with Guinea.”

Now Guinea’s Group “E” also has Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Malawi, the only non-West African team in the pool, would have cause to worry because of their lack of familiarity with that region.

And on Malawi’s visit to Guinea and perhaps the other two West African destinations, the Central Africans must be concerned that CAF does not seem capable of convincing a large section of the African football fraternity that some countries like Guinea are playing fair.

In summary, from the last round of the World Cup/African Nations qualifiers, Kenya say the Guinea FA broke at least five Fifa/CAF regulations including:

* CAF Regulation 7.4 (a), failing to have a Guinea FA committee official at the airport on Kenya’s arrival

* CAF Regulation 7.4 (a), failing to provide an interpreter for the visiting team

* CAF Regulation 7.4 (b), failing to provide a large bus and car for 25 Kenyan representatives (only an 18-seat bus and three-seater car available).

* CAF Regulation 7.4 (d), failing to provide a training field in the morning (October 10) following Kenya’s arrival.

* CAF Regulation 7.4 (f) failing to have any Guinea FA official facilitate departure of the visiting team.

Other unfriendly actions the Guineans are accused of include:

* hostile and crude search of all Harambee Stars luggage on arrival in Conakry by customs officials

* attempted seizure by custom officials of the Harambee Stars team doctor’s medical supplies bag

* attempted theft of the team doctor’s extra medical kit in a cooler bag which was intercepted at a taxi rank outside the airport. Kenyans suspected collusion between custom officers and the thieves.

* shocking refusal of the Guinea players to shake hands of Kenyan officials during the match opening ceremony at stadium

* disappearance of most ball boys and balls during the last 20 minutes of the match. Match commissar had to intervene to look for the balls round the stadium

* no senior Guinea FA official contacted or visited the Kenyan delegation throughout the time they were stranded in Conakry.

* attempted extortion of $50 on each of the marooned Kenyans for alleged “expired visas” issued by the same immigration officials on arrival.

The Harambee Stars management must be commended for raising the red flag over unacceptable behaviour which in fact is not a Guinean monopoly in African football.

So bad is the situation in the continent that CAF has instituted a committee for ethics and fair-play. The head is Nigeria’s Dr Amos Adamu, whom many see as a prospective future CAF President.

This committee intends to deal with all matters pertaining to ethics in African football and the promotion of fair play. No doubt they have their work cut out for them if countries such as Guinea continue breaking regulations with impunity.

Many Guineans and other officials from countries that flout Fifa and CAF regulations continue to serve under CAF committees and as referees and match commissars. Perhaps it is time CAF got tougher and decided that the first sanctions that should go to countries such as Guinea is that their officials do not serve on the continental body’s committees.

Raymond Hack of South Africa heads CAF’s disciplinary board whose mandate includes slapping offenders with sanctions for serious infringements which escape the match officials.

There are two gentlemen right on the spotlight; Baratte Aboubacar Camara of Guinea is also a member of that board and so is Kenya Football Federation (KFF) chairman Mohamed Hatimy. It would be strange if serious allegations such as Kenya’s against Guinea — which appear based on the premise that it is the West African country’s habitual behaviour — were to receive mere casual attention.

The 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifiers’ last phase between March and November next year will be stirring and it is needless to say that fair play will be appreciated. CAF’s organising committee for the Nations Cup is headed by none other than Issa Hayatou, the confederation’s President if that is not enough to emphasise what serious a business it is.

Hayatou’s deputy is Molefi Oliphant, the South African Football Association boss and notable members from the sub-Saharan region include Danny Jordaan of South Africa, Leodegar Tenga, the Tanzania Football Federation chairman and Sudan’s Kamal H. Shaddad.

Tellingly, Almamy Kabele Camara of Guinea is a member of the committee too. Shouldn’t the apparently balanced regional representation in CAF committee such as this also be reflected in the uniform adherence to generally acceptable standards of behaviour.

It is the feeling of many that individuals from countries that cannot observe CAF regulations should cease serving in the continental body’s administrational committees.

It has also been suggested to CAF that duties such as those of a match commissioner should extend to supervising and ensuring proper treatment of visiting teams and that if regulations are broken, the official, who should only leave the host country after a visiting team has left, should recommend sanctions against the wrong doers.

Clearly, at the moment, there is a lot of bad blood between member countries regarding hosting of away teams. Incidentally, it is perhaps the right moment for another very important CAF committee to swing into decisive action.

The Consultative Committee of CAF and National Associations is also headed by the CAF President and among its five other members is Nicholas Musonye of Kenya who is the secretary general of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa). Ashford Mamelodi of Botswana is also there.

This committee is responsible for maintaining good relations with and between the national associations and for encouraging fruitful co-operation on all matters relating to the game, its rules and regulations and the development of football. Its obligation is spot on; and doesn’t it have a job on its hands?