So Tell me, who doesn't like to be associated with success? Robert Mugabe is the latest to join the train
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is a Chelsea fan, it was reported yesterday.
The octogenarian African leader said the European champions were his favourite side.
Mugabe, 88, revealed his allegiance to the London club as he discussed football with a group of Zimbabwean players including former national captain Benjani Mwaruwari, 33.
The New Zimbabwe website reported how the statesman told the Portsmouth striker he had followed his career but added that he preferred to watch Chelsea and Spanish giants Barcelona.
He said: 'Yes, I followed you and watched some of your games, but I am a Chelsea and Barcelona supporter and I always want them to score.'
Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for 32 years, also revealed that he was a keen football fan who demanded peace and quiet when he watched big games on television.
The dictator said: 'When I watch football, I do not want anyone to disturb me.'
He added: 'Even my wife knows where to sit because while they are scoring in the field I will also be scoring at home, kicking everything in front of me.
'I have scored a lot of goals at my home, but I can only remember scoring once during the days we played a lot of football as I grew up.
'It was rather fortunate, too. I just hit the ball towards goal and the goalkeeper was poor so it went in.'
Mugabe spoke about his love for the beautiful game as he met Mwaruwari and other football stars including Senegalese winger El-Hadji Diouf, Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu, and Ghanese defender John Pantsil.
Mugabe's favourite team, Chelsea, celebrates winning the
UEFA Champions League Final.
The players were in Zimbabwe for a testimonial match for Mwarurwai, who hopes to launch a football academy in the country's southern second city of Bulawayo.
Addressing the players, New Zimbabwe reported that Mugabe expressed concern that professional footballers often needed help at the end of their careers.
The statesman said: 'They live, eat, dream and sleep soccer.
'At the end of the day in some cases after they have done all that much, they have nothing; and there comes the afternoon and night you are grown up and there is nothing that you can offer because soccer has not been giving you money.
Supported by the dictator: The Chelsea Team on a open top
bus in Fulham after winning the Champions League
'So we would want sport to provide for lives and for sustenance of our youngsters.'
Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.
The landlocked country was once considered the breadbasket of Africa but has seen its economy collapse under the former liberation hero's rule.
The tyrant has been accused of orchestrating a string of human rights abuses to cling to power.
Since 2009 his ruling Zanu-PF party has ruled as part of a shaky coalition with the main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change.
However Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh polls amid the apparent belief he could win a fresh mandate to govern alone.
The new elections are expected to be held next year.
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this man has been leading the country before i was born. and i am 31 yrs old.
ReplyDeleteIs this news, who gives a damn if Mugabe likes chelsea
ReplyDeleteEverybody has the right to his Opinion,Jelousy.Chelsea for life!
ReplyDelete