Sports / Soccer
FIFA president expected in Zimbabwe on Monday
29 Jun 2011 at 22:58hrs | Views
FIFA president Sepp Blatter will arrive in Harare on Monday in the first high-profile visit to the country by the leader of the world football governing body, which will also be a massive blow to those who have been trying to use sport as part of the instruments in their bid to isolate Zimbabwe.
The 75-year-old Fifa boss is also expected to pay a courtesy call on President Mugabe at State House, just hours after touching down at the Harare International Airport, during his two-day trip to Zimbabwe during which he will be accompanied by Fifa secretary-general, Jerome Valcke.
Blatter's visit is also a massive boardroom coup for Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and his board as it should cement relations between the two bodies.
Crucially for Zimbabwe, the visit by the highest official in world football will provide further testimony that this country is a safe destination at a time when some detractors have been calling for its isolation from the rest of the globe.
Even such nations as Australia have also ended their isolation of Zimbabwe and the Aussie A na-tional cricket A side is in the country for a triangular series, which also includes South Africa.
Blatter becomes the first Fifa president to visit Zimbabwe and his tour has naturally been greeted with excitement by the domestic football family wi-th an ecstatic Zifa president Dube yesterday saying the meeting between his board and the world body's leadership could change the face of the domestic game.
Dube said Blatter's visit would also herald a new chapter for Zifa's Goal Project, which his board has been on a crusade to revive, since they came into office on March 27 last year.
The Zifa president said the visit was also a fulfillment of an invitation he had extended to the Fifa boss during the world body's congress in Zurich, Switzerland, at the start if this month at which Blatter was elected unopposed for another four-year term following the withdrawal of Asian football chief Mohammad bin Hammam.
Blatter wrote to Dube on Tuesday confirming his visit and also outlining his itinerary.
The Fifa president will, after his working visit to Zimbabwe, proceed to Durban, South Africa, for the 123rd Session of the International Olympic Committee.
The 75-year-old Fifa boss is also expected to pay a courtesy call on President Mugabe at State House, just hours after touching down at the Harare International Airport, during his two-day trip to Zimbabwe during which he will be accompanied by Fifa secretary-general, Jerome Valcke.
Blatter's visit is also a massive boardroom coup for Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and his board as it should cement relations between the two bodies.
Crucially for Zimbabwe, the visit by the highest official in world football will provide further testimony that this country is a safe destination at a time when some detractors have been calling for its isolation from the rest of the globe.
Even such nations as Australia have also ended their isolation of Zimbabwe and the Aussie A na-tional cricket A side is in the country for a triangular series, which also includes South Africa.
Blatter becomes the first Fifa president to visit Zimbabwe and his tour has naturally been greeted with excitement by the domestic football family wi-th an ecstatic Zifa president Dube yesterday saying the meeting between his board and the world body's leadership could change the face of the domestic game.
Dube said Blatter's visit would also herald a new chapter for Zifa's Goal Project, which his board has been on a crusade to revive, since they came into office on March 27 last year.
The Zifa president said the visit was also a fulfillment of an invitation he had extended to the Fifa boss during the world body's congress in Zurich, Switzerland, at the start if this month at which Blatter was elected unopposed for another four-year term following the withdrawal of Asian football chief Mohammad bin Hammam.
Blatter wrote to Dube on Tuesday confirming his visit and also outlining his itinerary.
The Fifa president will, after his working visit to Zimbabwe, proceed to Durban, South Africa, for the 123rd Session of the International Olympic Committee.
Source - Byo24News
