Bhamjee says Africa needs change

Bhamjee, who is an executive member of Fifa said he believed Africa needed a leadership change.

"There is a lot of work to be done to put African football back on the right track and I am privileged and honoured to be able to put forward my name to lead the organisation in this new century," he said.

The Fifa election last year split the continent, with half of Africa's national associations openly supporting Sepp Blatter against his challenger, Caf president Issa Hayatou.

Bhamjee fact file Born: 3 January, 1944 Married with three children 1965: Best Referee in South Africa award 1988-01: President Botswana Olympic Committee 1988-02: President Botswana FA 1988+: Caf executive committee 1988+: President Cosafa 1998+: Fifa executive committee

In his role as president of the Southern African region, Cosafa, football has progressed rapidly.

He has developed well-organised annual competitions at all levels, which other regions have struggled to do.

He was also behind the re-integration of South African football after decades of apartheid-enforced isolation.

But while Bhamjee's CV appears exemplary, it is unclear how much support he will be able to rely on outside Southern Africa.

It could cause yet another split in allegiances.

But former African Footballer of the Year Abedi Pele and the secretary-general of the West African Football Union, Aka Malan, were at the press conference in Johannesburg where he announced his candidacy.

Bhamjee is the first to declare he will challenge Hayatou, who has been in charge for 14 years.