COSAFA turns down ZIFA's obertures to recall Chiyangwa || The Southern Times

Tadious Manyepo

Harare - COSAFA have thrown away a sensational appeal from the Zimbabwe Football Association that sought to recall the regional soccer mother body's president, Philip Chiyangwa.

The Felton Kamambo-led ZIFA had claimed that Chiyangwa had a hand in Zimbabwe Warriors' nightmarish showing at the Africa Cup of Nations whose curtain comes down in Egypt tonight.

Subsequently, ZIFA had written to Cosafa recalling its former president.

The administration even went further to threaten they would pull out of the regional board should authorities decide not to fire the Harare businessman.

But, COSAFA have binned those calls calling the allegations levelled against Chiyangwa mere domestic issues.

ZIFA accuses Chiyangwa of interfering in the affairs of the ZIFA administration.

COSAFA wrote to the association on Wednesday saying the allegations were domestic in nature.

“Your allegations against the former president of ZIFA, whether founded or unfounded, are domestic in nature and should therefore be dealt with in Zimbabwe. These issues have nothing to do with COSAFA,” wrote COSAFA general secretary, Sue Destombes in a letter to ZIFA.

“It is the prerogative of any member association to consider whether or not to participate in the activities of the zonal union. We trust that the association will act in a responsible manner and seek to resolve any differences so that the focus of the leadership can be on football development and reaching the full and considerable potential which Zimbabwe has."

Chiyangwa was narrowly beaten to the ZIFA crown by Kamambo in the election held in December last year, but remained COSAFA president.

As Zimbabwe tried to come to terms with their catastrophic exit from the AFCON biannual tournament, individuals like Chiyangwa were fingered as scapegoats for that disappointing performance by the team.

As authorities, the Sports and Recreation Commission, demanded answers from ZIFA, the administration took knives out for the likes of Chiyangwa whom they wanted recalled from his regional post.

While Zimbabwe, who for the fourth time failed to negotiate their way out of the group stages, are still engaged in a soul-searching exercise, the Barea of Madagascar are being feted as kings.

The SADC islanders surprised all and sundry with their fine showing at the contest they were participating for only their first time.

Madagascar went all the way to the quarter-finals where they eventually lost to former champions Tunisia.

They had claimed the scalps of powerhouses Nigeria and the DR Congo on their way to the last eight.

They were subsequently rewarded with the highest honorific order of Madagascar. The 23-man squad was awarded the rank of "Knight of the Malagasy National Order" after their exploits.

They were awarded by the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, at the Lavoloha State Palace in the country's capital Antananarivo