Football - Phillip Chiyangwa replaces Patel as Cosafa president |20 December 2016

Phillip Chiyangwa has been elected president of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) after he stood unopposed at the organisation’s annual general meeting at Sun City, South Africa on Saturday, replacing Seychelles’ own Suketu Patel.

The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) president takes over from Mr Patel, who chose not to stand after completing two terms in office.

The other contender for the role of Cosafa president, Dr Danny Jordaan from the South African Football Association, withdrew before the vote.

Mr Chiyangwa expressed his delight at having received the support of the region, who unanimously welcomed his appointment, saying he was “happy and humbled” to lead.

Frans Mbidi of Namibia was voted in as vice-president for the next five years.

The vote was taken as well for the five additional individuals to make up the executive committee in their role as ordinary members, with the successful candidates being General Pedro Neto (Angola), Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Sameer Sobha (Mauritius), Alberto Simanga (Mozambique) and Walter Nyamilandu-Manda (Malawi), who has served as an ordinary member on the outgoing exec.

Dr Jordaan, David Fani (Botswana) and Mclean Letshwidi (Botswana) withdrew from the vote for ordinary members.

Outgoing president Patel said he believed he had completed his mission to help develop football in the Cosafa region and it was now time to pass on the baton.

“When I took over the presidency 10 years ago, development was the objective and we have achieved that,” Mr Patel said. “It is important to know when one has done his job and leave with dignity.

“Back then we had one tournament, our senior challenge, but this year we have hosted five events across the age-groups in men’s and women’s football.

“It has always been our objective that young players’ first exposure to international football is in our region. I hope that legacy will continue.

“We have great sponsors in place and these relationships now need to be nurtured. We have built a credible institution that is accountable to its members. Cosafa is perceived to be the premier region in the Caf family.”

Patel had been the head of Cosafa – which comprises Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe – for the past ten years, since he replaced Botswana’s Ismail Bhamjee in 2006.

He was re-elected in December 2011, when he stood unopposed as his would-be adversary South African Football Association (Safa) vice-president Danny Jordaan withdrew just as voting was due to start.

Earlier that same year, Patel became the number two in football management in Africa after he was voted as Confederation of African Football (Caf) first vice-president.

Mr Patel has been involved with local football for many years and he was first elected Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) chairman in 1980 and served the sport until 1991. Between 1991 and 1994, he was the honorary chairman before deciding to come back for a second spell as chairman. He made a comeback as SFF chairman in 1994 and led the local football body until December 2011.

The first Seychellois to serve on Caf executive committee following his election in 2004, Mr Patel has also served as special advisor to Caf's finance committee, member of the African body's club competitions committee and a member of the organising committee of the Fédération internationale de football association's (Fifa) world under-17 championships.

Compiled by S.N.