As the world celebrates and recognises women around the world today, March 8th, I thought I might as well use this opportunity to make an open and bold statement of declaration – my candidature for an Executive Seat at the Confederation of African Federations. (CAF).
Across all spheres of living, the wind of change is blowing. Everybody clamours for change. And whatever we do, change is the only constant.
In our world, the football world, it’s been messages of change, day after day.
Change is the only constant. But how many of us can truthfully say that as much as we yearn for change, we are bold enough to take those bold steps, endure those painful, humiliating and challenging obstacles, all in a bid to bring about change that is not just for the sake of the word, but that which will be meaningful and positive?
While the biggest picture has been responding and adapting to this whole “change” phenomenon, so have the sub sectors. So people have clamoured for more inclusivity in the administration of our game. And that includes women.
Increasingly, we are seeing calls for more women to be involved in our game.
But do we just want women in our game to satisfy our inner conscience that we have done what the world wants – a world seeking political correctness? Or do we really want women that can step up and prove that women deserve to be voices that are heard in football?
That is what my representation on the CAF Executive stands for – meaningful change.
I am, first and foremost, African. A Sierra Leonean who has weathered and experienced in my years of being a football administrator, the ugly side of this beautiful game and what it means to champion good governance in the game to bring about positive change… and experienced a whole lot in a short time. I am someone who has taken life’s experiences as a lesson and a guide to dealing with the next issue that comes up.
I am also a woman – a proud one at that; proud to be a woman, and proud of what we, as women have done and can still do.
When I come into the CAF Executive Committee, I want to embrace the said CHANGE values, doing all I can, first to promote the continent that I am proud to be a part of, but also to further enhance the interest and importance of women in our football.
I have high hopes for Africa. I am an optimist and I know that, credit to what all the pioneers of the running of the game have done over time, there is a lot more that can come from us. I want to bring my thoughts and my ideas to bear on how to consolidate on the good that the last 60 years has brought, and even more.
It has been good. But now is the time to start to take us to the next step. To use the next decade to capitalise on what we have achieved so far. To use the next few years to actually place women at the forefront of decision making in the game, in a manner that will acknowledge the impact and potential that women have.
I want to pioneer that voice. Not to confront those who have done what they have done this far; not to challenge my leaders and elders. But rather, to air my views, make the female voice heard, and to further empower my ilk and give them belief that they can achieve greatness.
I want this chance to be heard. I want this chance to be the woman who can use my story to build more women. I want women to contribute to what is already great, that it may be greater. I want to create an environment for boldness without confrontation.
FIFA has given us a voice. CAF is giving us a voice. A voice is good. But an effective, meaningful voice is what I crave. Isha Johansen stands for a loud voice for the interests of women en route to building a veritable football culture in Africa.
