He was uncontested following the withdrawal of fellow
hopefuls Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma, who opted
to back the South African billionaire.
Motsepe’s election to the continental football body has
been welcomed across Africa as he is seen as someone who can unite the football
family and help to grow the African game.
Former Zifa president and current Cosafa president Philip
Chiyangwa played a hand in the ascendancy of Motsepe to the Caf throne, with
the southern African football bloc throwing its weight behind the South
African.
Chiyangwa has in the past been credited in ending the
29-year reign of Issa Hayatou as Caf president, which was characterised by
endless corruption scandals that hindered the growth and development of
football on the continent.
Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar, with the help of Chiyangwa,
took over from Hayatou and only served one term.
Ahmad’s victory involved a lot of horse trading behind the
scenes and the ugly side of continental football politics as Hayatou tried to
hold on to power, but this was not the case with Motsepe.
Motsepe’s reputation and stature in both football and
business warmed the hearts of many.
Chiyangwa by virtue of being the boss of the southern
region football body contributed again to Motsepe’s victory which was achieved
way before Friday’s congress as he was elected uncontested.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino was in South Africa last
month for the Cosafa Annual General Meeting in Sandton, Johannesburg at the
invitation of Chiyangwa.
Infantino, who has a sound personal relationship with
Chiyangwa, brokered the deal that cleared the way for Motsepe’s ascendancy.
Speaking to the Daily News on Sunday after Motsepe was
confirmed as the new Caf president, Chiyangwa downplayed his contribution and
argued that Motsepe’s profile was the biggest selling point.
“Motsepe was a good choice, and his success is well documented
in Forbes Magazine and you can read more about him.
“We worked with him all the way and we agreed with the
other candidates that he is our best choice,” said Chiyangwa
Pressed on whether he was king maker of African football
following the role he played in sending Hayatou packing after three decades at
the helm, Chiyangwa chose to be diplomatic and humble.
“I’m merely a football leader in the biggest region of
Africa, and coupled with the fact that Motsepe comes from our region as Cosafa
or Sadc, we stood by him and said let’s support our own because the one who was
in office for only one term (Ahmad) was our own, so let us ensure that this
power does not move to another region as it would be very difficult to bring it
back to our region,” quipped the former Zifa president.
Motsepe’s presidency will excite and give hope to many in
Zimbabwe and that excitement is not unfounded. His football club Sundowns has
been home to many Zimbabweans from Esrom Nyandoro, Method Mwanjali, Nyasha
Mushekwi, Cuthbert Malajila, Lionel Mtizwa and Peter Ndlovu, their current
manager, among others.
It is Motsepe’s history with Zimbabwean footballers that
brings hope that Zimbabwe as a country may enjoy some Caf spinoffs that could
help to develop football in this part of the continent.
This is something that Chiyangwa also strongly believes in.
“What are the benefits, basically the balance sheet of Caf is very small and
when you want to draw attraction to an investment you must also put in good
leadership,” he said.
“God leadership assures you of better prospects so that is
the way I look at this and that is exactly what has happened here.
‘‘With him comes a lot of other interested parties who will
be interested in supporting what he supports so let’s give it a chance and also
ensure that football is played.’’ Daily News
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