THIS year could prove crucial for the future of soccer in Tanzania.

It is an election year and already, regional FAs and associate members of Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) are busy conducting their elections ahead of the body's general elections set for December, this year.

At least 11 regional football associations have so far concluded their elections. The regions include Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Mara, Morogoro, Mtwara and Singida All regional FAs and other affiliate members, in fact, are supposed to wind up their elections before the much-awaited TFF election that is set to draw the fate of our football.

The elections, understandably, have drawn a lot of interest among football fraternity for a myriad of reasons that may differ from one individual to another, one group to another.

It is an open secret that some people, who are either interested in venturing into the football management or seek to maintain their positions in the football hierarchies, started their groundwork long before the ongoing elections got underway.

Thus, they have been trying to exploit these elections to put their comrades in power, with an eye on the TFF general elections, knowing that regional football leaders and affiliated members will have a 'big say' in the December polls.

But can these people just stop and think for a moment how far our football has developed for the past 50 years of independence? For all these years, Tanzanian football has failed to record any notable achievement despite the very fact that this country is endowed with abundant young talent compared to most football developed nations.

But, it is lack of visionary, sound leadership in football management that has failed our game and brought it to what is now, ranked 132nd in the world, thus lagging behind East and Central African compatriots Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda Uganda.

There is no denying that the presence of incompetent and corrupt leaders in the football hierarchies is the main stumbling block that has been holding back the development of our beautiful game.

And as the TFF general elections draws nearer, it is high time all voters reflected on what they have done and what they are going to do for our football and wisely use their votes in the December elections to put in power people who can change our soccer fortunes.