Former Secretary General of the Football Association of Tanzania (FAT — now TFF), Michael Wambura
Wambura, former Secretary General of the Football Association of Tanzania (FAT — now TFF), made public his interest at a press conference he held in the city on Wednesday, in which he launched a stinging attack on the Chairman of the TFF Electoral Committee, Deogratius Lyatto — claiming the latter ‘knows nothing about laws’.
Wambura said that he is ready to fight on and vowed to pick up forms for this year’s election despite what he claimed as an objection and ‘false’ allegations levelled against him by the TFF. “I am a Tanzanian citizen and it is my basic rights to contest in elections for the leadership of Tanzanian football, all allegations directed towards me just seek to delude the public,” he said.
Wambura, who did not reveal the position which he will contest for, also asked Lyatto to clear him of embezzlement claims levelled against him by the Electoral Committee chairman recently otherwise he would pursue legal actions.
Speaking to reporters early this month, Lyatto ridiculed the decision by the TFF’s Appeal Committee to clear Wambura on the grounds that no committee can invalidate the ruling. Lyatto further accused Wambura of embezzlement and mismanagement of funds and properties during his time as the general secretary of the local football governing body.
Lyatto presented some documents that he said vindicated the electoral committee’s decision and stance against Wambura. But Wambura rubbished off Lyatto’s claims saying: “Obviously Lyatto is ignorant of law…. he actually knows nothing on regulations and procedures governing elections, I want him to come out and apologize to me within seven days.”
Wambura also suggested that Lyatto should step down as the chairman of TFF’s Electoral Committee, arguing that he doesn’t know what he is doing and that he is a disgrace to the federation. Wambura’s bid to return to football management has repetitively hit the snag, often being disqualified by the electoral committee, which has insisted he lacks integrity. But he promised to fight on.
“I’ll keep fighting for my rights, I will pursue this matter to the highest body and hopefully I will get my rights.” According to Lyatto, only the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has the jurisdiction to challenge the decision by the electoral committee against Wambura and he has not hesitated to advise the latter to follow that lead if he wants to be cleared.
November last year, the World football governing body, FIFA refused to intervene in ongoing dispute between Wambura and the TFF Electoral Committee. Wambura had petitioned the world football governing body in the wake of the electoral committee’s decision to disqualify him from the Mara FA elections.
Wambura was disqualified from contesting for the chairmanship post in the Mara regional football association elections for what the election committee said his lack of integrity. Discontented with decision, Wambura challenged the ruling through FIFA. But FIFA said it had got no authority to intervene in the matter because it is purely an internal affair and must be.
Source Tanzania Daily News
