CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
like to remind you that you do not have any authority to convene such a meeting without CAF’s knowledge, nor do you have the required approval.
“While it would be acceptable to convene a meeting of the leaders of your zonal union, convening a meeting with many member associations outside the Cosafa zone is deemed to represent an attempt to destabilise CAF.”
But a clearly upset and unrepentant Chiyangwa responded by warning the CAF that he was not the least amused by the tone of the letter insinuating that his birthday party is an illegal attempt to destabilise the CAF.
“The CAF statutes state clearly that the continental organisation shall promote friendly relations between national associations, zonal unions, clubs, officials and players,” he replied, insisting that his meeting is for “that very objective”.
Chiyangwa’s letter referred to Fifa’s statutes relating to the protection of human rights, which, he says, include the “freedom of association of member associations and zonal unions for the development and growth of the game on our continent”.
The gloves are off and this sideshow has shifted the spotlight away from the CAF Super Cup that pits billionaire friends — Moïse Katumbi Chapwe (Mazembe) against Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe (Sundowns) — for the tie that pairs the African Champions against the Confederation Cup winners.
Katumbi, a former ally of DRC President Joseph Kabila, quit the country’s ruling party when it became evident that he intended to break up Katanga province, where Katumbi was governor, into nine mini provinces.
In addition, he was unimpressed with his compatriot’s intention to hold on to power when his mandate expired in November last year.
Katumbi has since gone into exile. He was involved in the mass mobilisation of opposition parties under the leadership of Étienne Tshisekedi, who died in Belgium in January, leaving his deputy as the leader of the mass opposition movement in the DRC.
Kabila reacted by banning all football activities, which has seen Linafoot, the top professional division of the Federation of Congolese Football, grind to a standstill, seriously affecting Mazembe’s preparations for the title they won last year.
Of concern to Mazembe followers is Sundowns have been strengthening their team whereas the DRC team, has seen a trickle of players going to top European teams.
Tanzanians Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu have left Lubumbashi for Belgium and Sweden, respectively. Roger Assalé has just concluded a loan deal to FC Young Boys in Switzerland and Zambian midfield enforcer Nathan Sinkala and Ghanaian winger Solomon Asante are rumoured to be on their way out.
But Mazembe remains one of Africa’s greatest sides. They have won the CAF Champions League four times in the past decade and, with that kind of pedigree, they are certainly no slouches, as Sundowns will find out on Saturday.
Mazembe welcomed Ley Matampi and Djos Issama (DRC) and Salif Coulibaly (Mali) back from Afcon commitments this week and intensified their preparations with friendly matches.
As Sundowns continued with their league programme catch-up with victories over Bloemfontein Celtic (1-0) and Orlando Pirates (6-0), Mazembe handed AS New Soger a 7-0 hiding and beat Lubumbashi Sport 4-1 in friendly matches between the Congolese sides at the Stade TP Mazembe over the weekend.
They fielded their strongest possible line-up, starting with goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, Zambian Kabaso Chongo, Joël Kimwaki, Daniel Adjei, Given Singuluma and Trésor Mputu, with skipper Rainford Kalaba the only notable absentee.
This will be Sundowns’ first Super Cup appearance, whereas Mazembe have won the CAF tournaments’ curtain raiser three times and have vowed to retain it at Loftus stadium on Saturday. 1 Race round with Freud maybe entering dreamy state (4,2,6) 8 UK university and what one might be doing there (7)
9 Preventing corruption of backward spooks receiving 30 days (7) 11 Paul’s a pothead, stoned somewhere in Sweden (7)
12 Those people accepting blame for healing (7)
13 Porky, say, returning
to Belgian city (5) Shed (© The Guardian newspaper) 14 Purpose to keep
sibling nagging (9) 16 Fellow putting lid on
brown cocktail (9) 19 Language of medic (a
junior) (5)
21 Girl carrying builder’s tool to terminal, alternatively (7) 23 Concerning privates, affable sergeant’s conclusion’s welcomed (7) 24 Name-dropping Dubliner shattered and put back together (7) 25 Diggers of hot girls 1 Walk all over male animal
wearing shabby pelt (7)
2 Wee Tina, drunk, plunged into
river (7)
3 Stickler for rules to follow a tribal
leader into haze (9)
4 Exploit involving second blowout
(5)
5 Extremely old, turning in, dress
elegantly (7)
6 Cheese pie? (7)
7 Time with successful Russian business person, one causing unrest? (12)
10 Growth involving track exercise with obsessive code-breaker (12)
15 Religious establishment putting misdemeanour on tenterhooks, reportedly (9)
17 Famous toff receiving thanks
(7)
18 Put out, is a local not initially
unfriendly? (7)
19 Star may work (7)
20 Nervous, gutted, Johnny’s
drinking beer with no head (7) 22 Present goal preceding cry of
pain (5)
As the drama unfolded, Chiyangwa also found himself at the wrong end of Hayatou’s wrath