FORMER Zimbabwe Football Association and Cosafa president Phillip Chiyangwa is in Germany to watch the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, this evening.
Chiyangwa is at this glamorous competition following an invitation by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and he also watched the semi-finals in which Spain spanked France 2-1 and England overpowered the Netherlands 2-1.
Chiyangwa said during his spell as Zifa and Cosafa president, he created friends in high places and was enjoying the returns of his work as both the Zimbabwean and Southern African football supremo.
The flamboyant Harare businessman took his time to offer his prediction for today's final picking England as his choice to lift the coveted Euro 2024 title.
"It's going to be a close game, but England will just win it narrowly 2-1 at the death of extra time," predicted Chiyangwa.
Chiyangwa also took his time to dispel word that he was seeking a return to football as Zifa president when election time comes before January 31, 2025, making it clear that he has no immediate plans for football.
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"I have friends in high football places, but do not have football plans at the moment. Right now, I am enjoying myself with my wife," said Chiyangwa, who has just remarried.
During his stay in Germany, Chiyangwa met amongst others Fifa secretary Mattias Grafstrom and highly regarded coach Fabio Capello, who coached England and Real Madrid
The former music and boxing promoter said for Zimbabwean football to prosper, the country needed a head of football who loves the game, is committed to its demands, and is appealing to sponsors.
The former member of Parliament for Zvimba South was Zifa president from 2016 to 2018 and went on to be voted the president of Cosafa, an association he led until 2022.
Perhaps his biggest time in football was when he — as campaign manager for Madagascar's Ahmad Ahmed — in 2017 ended Cameroonian Issa Hayatou's long reign as Caf president when Ahmad won the polls.
Hayatou had been in the Caf chair since 1988 during a period in which West Africa seemed to enjoy some advantages and notably in its hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Chiyangwa, who serves as honourary president of Caf was key to the ascendancy of billionaire Patrick Motsepe to the throne of Caf president.
The final between Spain and England brings the curtain down on Euro 24 which began on June 14 with 24 teams but will only have one champion — Spain or England.