Former FIFA development manager for Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi says African football has failed to develop because of lack of inventive methods of administration to deal with issues affecting the fraternity.

Mamelodi was quoted as stressing the need for Africans to improve the administration of especially at club level because clubs are the foundation of national teams and that they contribute to the standing of the country in international football.

A FAZ statement stated that Mamelodi said this when he opened the two-day governance workshop for Super Division, Division One and Women clubs in Lusaka, Thursday.

Mamelodi who is also former Cosafa General Secretary said African football has not developed in the last 50 years.

“Governance is a major problem in African football. We are still running football in the same way for the past 50 years. We need to aspire to reach the level of the English Premier League,” he said.

Mamelodi said administration had hardly received any attention as global trainers traversed the African continent. “We have strengthened the capacity of coaches and referees over the years, with FIFA trainers travelling across the continent but rarely did you see up-skilling of administrative staff,” Mamelodi said.

“How many contributions have we made to leadership of the clubs? I would like us to leave here with the understanding that the challenge belongs to us.”

He is training administrators from Lusaka, Central, Southern, Western and Eastern provinces over two days with the training shifting to Kitwe on Saturday and Sunday where the attendees from Copperbelt, North Western, Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces will also be enlightened.

The training covers fields such as general football structure, member association, leadership, good governance and clubs.

FAZ has been holding regular trainings for administrators and affiliates across the country.