Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi faces arguably the most crucial period of his career over the next two months, which could decide whether he hits new international heights, or ends up without a place in domestic football.
The Thai FA boss's pivotal months start with the May 2 election in Kuala Lumpur, where he fancies his chances of becoming new president of the Asian Football Confederation. Then, in the middle of June, he faces an even more crucial vote to retain his post as the head of Thai football.
In the race for a post left vacant since world soccer's governing body Fifa slapped disgraced Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam with a lifetime ban for bribery and corruption two years ago, the Thai is one of four candidates vying for the AFC's top job, along with Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, UAE soccer head Yousuf Al Serkal and Saudi Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej.
No one argued with the candidacy of Worawi who, as a Fifa executive committee member, knows plenty when it comes to politics in international sports organisation. For someone from a "small" footballing country to hold such high position in a powerful organisation like Fifa speaks volumes.
Ironically, his critics have often said he should focus on Fifa and let others handle the work at home, given that a Thailand languishing 140th in Fifa's latest rankings have been unable to end a slump that has lasted since Worawi succeeded Vijit Getkaew as head of Thai football six years ago.
Worawi already has little time for Thai football due to his commitments with Fifa and with the AFC, where he is a member of the executive board, so the prospect of him winning another AFC post may be a bleak one for Thai football.
The 62-year-old looks to have made a head start on his other three rivals in the race to take over the post from his long-time ally Bin Hammam, after managing to secure the backing of Asean countries plus Australia. He is also likely to get support from South Asia, where he has fellow Fifa executive committee member and close friend Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka to help him garner votes.
China's Zhang Jilong, who took temporary charge of the AFC following Bin Hammam's suspension, has opted not to stand in the election, which means that the choice for East Asian nations, including traditional powerhouses Japan and South Korea, seems clear as they prepare to cast their votes in the long standing struggle for power between "West" and "East" part of Asia.
The possibility that the three candidates from the Gulf region will take a vote off each other puts Worawi at a distinct advantage in the poll to be held during the AFC' s meeting in the Malaysian capital. However, his association with Bin Hammam as well as his own tarnished image following a series of corruption allegations against him, may have a negative impact on his campaign, when the AFC need someone to help it regain a reputation severely damaged by the disgraced Qatari's enforced exile from the game.
With less than two weeks to got before the AFC election, Sheikh Salman, a member of Bahrain's ruling royal family, has emerged as favourite for the job after receiving public backing from the Olympic Council of Asia. Such immense influence has the OCA in the region, that it was believed they were behind Jang's decision not to run for the election.
Unlike Worawi, the Bahraini has also positioned himself as being outside the Bin Hammam circle and has vowed to clean up the AFC's tainted image. On the other hand, we have not heard much from the Thai FA boss about what he intends to do if he wins the job.
With the race entering its final straight, Worawi now wants to devote all his time to the election, as reflected by his decision to defer consideration of the future of the beleaguered Thailand coach Winfried Schaefer until after May 2.
That shows just how much the AFC's top post means to him, but the Thai should be aware that, with the Thai FA poll beckoning, he may find himself with no place in domestic football even if he wins a new role on the international stage.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/04/21/will-worawis-big-gamble-pay-off/
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