(ATR) Mark Rodrigues of Guyana is the first candidate to declare his intentions to reform CONCACAF as its next president.
"We will restore our credibility, taking all necessary steps in creating ‘The New CONCACAF’," Rodrigues detailed in his manifesto launched on Wednesday.
At 56-years old, Rodrigues is a CONCACAF integrity officer and the coach of the Guyana senior women's national team.
Currently CONCACAF is operating with a leadership void following the arrests of seven regional officers, including ex-president Jack Warner and his successors Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit. All are implicated in the criminal investigation into FIFA being conducted by the U.S. and Switzerland.
Webb has pleaded guilty to money laundering and racketeering charges. Warner is fighting extradition from Trinidad while Hawit, a Honduran, will soon be sent from Switzerland to the U.S. for trial.
The CONCACAF executive committee opted to operate without an interim president until an election set to take place May 12 in Mexico City.
"In light of current events, it is critical that the confederation's next president be determined by a public election and the scrutiny that comes with it," CONCACAF said in a statement.
Rodrigues outlined his plans to reform the confederation on his website Integrity for Football. His manifesto says he would "lead with honesty and integrity".
"I urge you to support and join me in ushering in a new brand of leadership at CONCACAF," said Rodrigues, "where playing football is at the heart of everything we do and stand for."
Rodrigues has a strong foundation in both football and business management, using his experience as a player for the Guyana U18 national team to coach youth, college and national teams for the last 15 years.
"Football has coursed through my veins since being introduced to the game as a child," he says. "My soccer skills were individually developed in my very early formative years without a coach," a problem Rodrigues says many youths in the Caribbean struggle with.
"Addressing this crucial issue would be a key focus for me if elected CONCACAF President," he vows.
Rodrigues’ business experience includes conducting operations for fast food chains in Canada and a real estate company in Toronto that handled more than $110 million in corporate funds during his 20-year tenure.
The decision by the CONCACAF executive committee to wait until an election is held has distressed some leaders of Caribbean football associations, including St. Martins chief Fabrice Baly. Baly says CONCACAF is violating its own statutes by not appointing the most senior vice president to the office of interim president.
"It is difficult to conclude that the unanimous and unilateral decision taken by EXCO can be anything but NULL and VOID," Baly said in a letter to CONCACAF, adding that he wanted to hold an extraordinary congress to elect an interim president before the May election.
Baly told Around the Rings he could not offer more comments regarding the situation.
CONCACAF general secretary Ted Howard responded to Baly’s letter urging associations to accept the decision of the executive board.
"Now is the time for our confederation to stand united and the EXCO believes that collective governance will further this goal," said Howard.
Other football leaders expected to join the presidential race include the Canadian Football Association president Victor Montagliani, Caribbean Football Union president Gordon Derrick and CONCACAF executive committee member from Cuba Luis Hernandez.
CONCACAF represents the football associations of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Written by KevinNutley
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