The recent WAFF (World Amputee Football Federation) Congress on November 30 marked a significant milestone for the organization as it elected its new board for the 2025-2028 term. Mateusz Widłak from Poland was elected as the new WAFF President, succeeding Arif Ümit UZTÜRK, whose presidency from 2020 to 2024 was characterized by remarkable growth and development for the organization. Under Arif UZTÜRKs leadership, WAFF saw its membership grow from 20 to 59 nations and successfully organized major tournaments, including the WAFF World Cup in 2022 and the inaugural Women’s World Cup in Barranquilla, Colombia. The newly elected Vice Presidents are Celeste Tchiama from Angola and Hamid El AOUNI from Morocco. The Secretary General position has been taken by Georg Schlachtenberger from Germany, while Adri Van Ingen from the Netherlands was elected as Treasurer. Additionally, Ian Clark from England and Eric Lamberg from the United States were elected as Members-at-Large.
The leadership transition signifies a promising new chapter for WAFF, building on the solid foundation laid during Arif UZTÜRKs tenure.
WAFF Board term 2020 - 2024
During the WAFF Congress that was organized as an online conference at 17 October 2020 the membership elected a new WAFF President and members of the Board. Mr Arif Umit Uzturk was elected WAFF President who followed Mr Rick Hofman, one of the Founders of WAFF. Celeste Tchiama was elected First Vice President and Mateusz Widlak Second Vice President. In 2021 Ian Clark Chair of Referee’s Committee joined the board as a member and in 2023 Tolga Korkusuz, replaced Owen Coyle as the WAFF Treasurer and Georg Schlachtenberger, Simon Baker as the WAFF Secretary General who both have resigned. As part of the new registration of WAFF in the Netherlands Adri van Ingen joined the Board as a member. The mandate for all members according to the constitution is limited to 4 years and the new board will be elected at the meeting of the membership, already scheduled for 30 November 2024.
Adri van Ingen Board Member, Bogusia Smolarek (EAAF Board member), Mateusz Widlak, Vice President; Tolga Korkusuz WAFF Treasurer, Arif Ümit Uztürk WAFF President; Georg Schlachtenberger WAFF Secretary General, Ian Clark Chair of Referee’s Committee; Celeste Tchiama, Vice President and Enejan Allajova, President Assistant
Rick Hofmann and Arif Ümit Uztürk during the WAFF Women´s World Cup 2024 in Barranquilla/Colombia
