By Austin Karonga
Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa has revealed that he told new Fifa president Gianni Infantino, 45, to stick to his word soon after the Swiss’s victory in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday.
Chiyangwa, who cast his first international footballing vote since becoming Zifa president in December, was seen in a video doing rounds on social media congratulating the 45-year-old lawyer from Brig, the Valais region of Switzerland, said he challenged him to keep the promise he made during his campaigning.
“Fifa and us have come a long way and it was high time the focus be stretched to all the corners, including Zimbabwe and not just being recognised as a part of Africa,” Chiyangwa told the Daily News.
“I told him that it’s about time we wine and dine together at a personal level as far as football development is concerned and now that you are my boss — don’t forget your pledge. Kindly make sure that all goes well because we voted you in and I’m looking forward to you looking after us.”
The Zifa supremo said he also outlined to him his plans that included the new Fifa president paying a courtesy visit not only to Zimbabwe but to the President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
“In his response, Infantino promised to visit Zimbabwe and he said ‘why not Phillip, you deserve it, you deserve my support,” added Chiyangwa.
Infantino replaced Blatter who had led Fifa since 1998 and stepped down last year before being later suspended from all football activities for six years for breaching ethics and guidelines.
The Uefa secretary-general polled 115 votes to succeed fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter as president of the world football’s governing body Fifa. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa was the closest rival trailing by 27 votes. Daily News
