Letshwiti invited to Harare meeting
Mqondisi Dube | Friday February 17, 2017 10:40
While Hayatou has threatened Chiyangwa over the gathering, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president, Chiyangwa appears to have outpaced the veteran administrator. Chiyangwa, through a letter this week, informed Hayatou that the gathering, contrary to CAF’s view, was meant to celebrate his birthday.
CAF had warned Chiyangwa against organising a meeting where FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and other Football Association (FA) leaders have been invited without the involvement of CAF.
Hayatou saw this as a gathering meant to campaign for his rival, Ahmad from Madagascar, who is challenging the long-serving leader in the March 16 polls scheduled for Ethiopia.
Letshwiti, who was part of the Johannesburg meeting which endorsed Madagascan Ahmad as the region’s preferred candidate for next month’s CAF election, was not immediately available for comment.
But Chiyangwa confirmed he had sent an invitation to the BFA president.
“Yes, he has been invited,” Chiyangwa told Mmegi Sport this week.
“It is with utmost pleasure that I write to you, to invite you in my personal capacity, to a ceremony to celebrate and mark my victory as COSAFA president and my belated birthday.
The celebration will be held in Harare on February 24. FIFA president, Infantino will be the guest of honour. I hope you find time from your busy schedule to attend these important and historic celebrations,” Chiyangwa wrote to Letshwiti.
Other FA presidents from several countries are also expected to fly into Harare for what Chiyangwa insists is a birthday and his COSAFA victory celebrations.
But Hayatou’s camp has seen it as an occasion to further drum up support for Ahmad, who is tipped to upset the Cameronian, at the helm of CAF since 1988.