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By Elvis Dumba
South Africa – Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) has honoured its former President, Dr. Phillip Chiyangwa for his contributions to regional football after he was named honourary president of COSAFA.
Chiyangwa, who led the organization as President for five years, was honoured at the organization’s Annual General Meeting in Sandton in Johannesburg last week.
The honourary award was bestowed by CAF president Patrice Motsepe and COSAFA president Artur Almeida e Silva.
Dr Chiyangwa served as COSAFA president during one of the most tumultuous times of the Civid-19 pandemic and was credited for his role in the revolution of African football which led to the end of the long grip to power by Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, which had stretched from 1988 and 2017.
“I want to thank you very much for having remembered that I stood as a leader to see the revolution in African football,” said Dr. Chiyangwa in his acceptance speech.
“I am very happy that COSAFA has continued to be a shining example of African football. Mr Artur Almeida e Silva (the current COSAFA president) you have had a good show because I am here today, side by side with you. As a son of Africa, Zimbabwe included, I also want to see football being played in my country,” said Dr. Chiyangwa.
Dr. Chiyangwa, who led ZIFA for two years from December 2016, was elected to the helm of the 14-nation bloc in December of the same year, and his five-year tenure ended in 2022
He guided COSAFA as they rode through the Covid-19 storm and announced he would not run for another term towards the last AGM which brought in Angolan Almeida e Silva unopposed.
Dr. Chiyangwa said he will support Zimbabwe’s initiatives to have the FIFA ban lifted for the country to participate in the global soccer stage.
Dr. Chiyangwa left the soccer administration to focus on his political career and is currently the Zvimba South Constituency legislator.