Mbalula pays tribute to Sexwale
Minister of sport and recreation Fikile Mbalula paid tribute to Tokyo Sexwale for his representation of the Rainbow Nation.
|||Johannesburg - Minister of sport and recreation Fikile Mbalula paid tribute to Tokyo Sexwale for his representation of the Rainbow Nation, on the world stage during the Fifa presidential elections held in Zurich on Friday.
Sexwale withdrew from the elections moments before voting began, but delivered a rousing speech, painting Africa and South Africa in a favourable light.
“In the aftermath of the election of Fifa President yesterday, we take our hats off to one of our own, Tokyo Sexwale, who fought a good fight and stood head and shoulders with the Titans of world football,” said Mbalula in a statement on Saturday.
“We are deeply encouraged that as a country we have produced capable leadership who have the tenacity, the stature and the capacity to contest leadership roles such as the one for Fifa President.”
“Tokyo Sexwale represented us well, carrying the South African flag high among the nations of the world. He may not have won the election of Fifa President, but he won the race as a capable leader whose magnanimity will continue to do us proud for generations to come. He gave us a voice and made us count as a country and as a continent. We may not have won the Fifa Presidency this time around, but Africa’s moment to lead world football will come.”
Gianni Infantino was elected president after nine hours of voting, and Mbalula paid tribute to the new leader of world football.
“Our heartfelt congratulations to Gianni Infantino, the new President of Fifa. He assumes the mettle at a time world football is desperate for leadership that is able to steer the ship through troubled waters. We have no doubt that Gianni Infantino is the man for the job, and has the skill, the staying power and the capacity to take Fifa to new heights and restore its dignity. His humility and track record gives us comfort that world football has entered a new era full of hope and promise for a better tomorrow.”
African News Agency