Thai FA chief Worawi Makudi insists he has respect for the three other candidates in the running to become president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Worawi is contesting the May 2 election against Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Yousef Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates and Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej of Saudi Arabia.
"They all are knowledgeable people who have good intentions to run the AFC for the benefit of the organisation," Worawi said yesterday.
"I have respect for them but the election entirely belongs to the national associations."
Worawi, a long-time member of the Fifa executive committee, has the support of the 11 members of the Asean Football Federation as well as Australia.
"I was unanimously proposed and nominated by the Asean Football Federation and they have given me this mandate which I feel very honoured to accept," Worawi told the Associated Press.
"They also confirmed that they will all be behind me for the campaign and the election."
A candidate needs at least 24 votes _ a majority of the AFC's 47 members _ to win the election.
Being the lone candidate from the eastern part of the continent could be an advantage for Worawi, considering his three rivals all come from the same zone.
The AFC has been without a permanent president since previous boss Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned for life by Fifa for corruption and bribery in May 2011. The Qatari has since denied any wrongdoing.
The AFC has since been headed by caretaker president Zhang Jilong, who has decided not to contest the election.