Around 13 presidents of football federations in Africa attended Dr. Philip ‘captain fiasco’ Chiyangwa’s birthday and regional victory celebrations at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) in Harare on Friday evening.
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president, Gianni Infantino, the shock guest of honour, spoke admirably about the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) and Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president, saying ‘captain fiasco’ was an energetic and brave man.
Also invited were many celebrities across various walks of life and several government officials. Musicians, sports personalities, business people from the country and southern African region graced the occassion as Dr. Chiyangwa marked his 58th birthday in style.
The event, whose theme was restricted to birthday sentiments, also saw FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal, several African heads of football associations and Zimbabwe Minister of Sport and Culture, Makhosini Hlongwane, giving speeches on the person of Chiyangwa and handing over tokens of appreciation.
Dr. Chiyangwa thanked his guests for gracing the occassion and said he had proved doubting Thomases wrong by managing to invite the FIFA president to his birthday and COSAFA victory celebrations.
Meanwhile, the president of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was candid as he rushed through his desire to see the face of African football changing through electing a new Confederetion of African Football (CAF) leadership.
An official Press Conference with the FIFA president to discuss football related issues away from the celebrations is scheduled for 12pm today in Harare.
