The previous president of the Belgian Hockey Federation (ARBH) will stand for the presidency of the FIH following the “resignation” of Narinder Batra, the one who beat him for 2 votes in Could 2021.
Sad candidate for the election to the presidency of the FIH (Worldwide Hockey Federation) organized in 2021, Marc Coudron (52) introduced on Friday that he would run for the following election (November 5) organized following the ” resignation” of his former rival, the Indian Narinder Batra, who had crushed him by two votes.
Marc, earlier than discussing your new candidacy, inform us what you may have change into since Could 22, 2021 of unhappy reminiscence?
I remained who I’m. And I accomplished, as introduced, my mandates as president of the ARBH (the Belgian Federation) then that of treasurer of the COIB. For the remainder, I’m stillprivate bankingat Belfius, and I take pleasure in seeing my kids develop up, and specifically enjoying hockey.
How lengthy did it take you to digest your defeat?
Whereas I had been given a one in 4 likelihood of being elected, I had obtained 49.5% of the vote. I used to be subsequently much less disillusioned than annoyed to have missed for therefore little, and particularly unhappy for the small hockey nations in direction of which I needed to pay attention a big a part of my efforts. Disappointments, I had skilled a lot larger after I was enjoying (Editor’s notice: 358 choices for the Pink Lions) after having notably missed out on qualifying for the Video games 4 occasions!
Have you ever relaunched different initiatives or responded to sure requests since then?
No, I mentioned I needed to give up. Final Could, I took over from Jean-Michel Saive as President of the City Youth Video games, an amazing mission to advertise sport amongst younger individuals launched by Jacques Borlée within the wake of the assaults in Brussels.
Then got here the resignation of Narinder Batra just a few weeks in the past… Karma?
(He smiles.) Initially, I wish to say that I hit it off with Narinder, who’s actually not a nasty individual. I have no idea the underlying causes for what occurred to him and subsequently can not specific myself on this topic. All that has been mentioned is that he was sentenced by the Indian Excessive Courtroom, which isn’t nothing, and that one of many grievances that has been made in opposition to him is that he declared himself president for lifetime of Hockey India, which is clearly prohibited by way of governance.
And so you’re once more a candidate for his succession. A 12 months in the past, nevertheless, you mentioned that you wouldn’t run once more in 2024 and that you’d “by no means be FIH President”!
Proof that solely fools don’t change their minds. It’s true that in 2021, the momentum appeared favorable to me in relation to the top of my mandate on the ARBH, and so on. Right here, inside an hour of the resignation announcement, I acquired dozens of messages from around the globe encouraging me to run once more. I used to be on a household trip and it allowed me to speak about all this with my family members first. Then I had a whole lot of calls, sufficient to rekindle the flame that has all the time been in me as a result of hockey has all the time been a part of my life. So I mentioned “go” after two good weeks of reflection as a result of I do know that this unpaid mandate has many implications on the household degree and on the skilled degree.
Your program shouldn’t change so much?
Certainly, the scenario has not modified a lot in a 12 months and a half. I’ve recognized three main challenges to be addressed as a precedence. Funds first, as a result of the FIH isn’t in one of the best papers, with the watermark of the upkeep or not of the Professional League. The governance of the FIH then, with fairly just a few factors to enhance in order that it turns into a benchmark by way of transparency. After which lastly the event of hockey on the planet. A determine as an instance my level: there are practically 100 nations which don’t even have as many members as the large Belgian golf equipment, specifically a thousand associates! This exhibits the potential of this sport. I’ve a whole lot of concepts to enhance issues by way of infrastructure and supervision,
Anyway, we must begin by being elected this time! Have you ever discovered from the earlier election and can you do it in a different way?
I don’t know if I’m going to alter a whole lot of issues. As all the time, I’ll hearken to expectations from the completely different nations, the place I’m now recognized.
Have you ever heard of every other functions (open till August 25)?
Sure, that of Tayyab Ikram, the present CEO of the Asian Federation, who’s already in theboardof the FIH. He’s of Pakistani origin however represents Macau the place he resides. He additionally has a task in Olympic Solidarity at IOC degree. That is somebody who is aware of lots of people and who will subsequently be a powerful candidate.
