1 ADDRESS BY DR. ISSA HAYATOU PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL Official Opening of the 37th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF Four Seasons Hotel Cairo Plaza Cairo, Egypt 6 April 2015
2 - Madam Chairperson of the African Union Commission - Mr. President of FIFA - The Chairman of the Football Confederation of North America, Central America and the Caribbean - Mr President of the Asian Football Confederation - Ladies and gentlemen of the Executive Committees of CAF and FIFA - Your Excellencies Members of Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt - Your Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps and Similar - Mr. Secretary General of UEFA, representing President Michel Platini - Distinguished delegates of the General Assembly - Distinguished guests in your respective ranks and titles
3 - Ladies and gentlemen The year is already well under way, but permit me to start with this custom because the last General Assembly of CAF took place way back on 8 th June 2014. On behalf of the Executive Committee of CAF, let me take advantage of this come-together to wish you all, and heartily so, my best wishes for 2015. I also welcome you to Cairo, the city which hosts the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football. My welcome is addressed particularly to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who has had to twist her tight schedule to personally attend all our sessions this time around. Mr. President of FIFA, Dear Sepp, I want to reiterate that here in Africa you are never on some strange or hostile territory. You shall always be at home here, on this continent, which adopted you some 40 years ago. The Presidents of CONCACAF and AFC, only by the friendship that unites us can the sacrifices you have undertaken, in braving the long hours of flight that separate your respective continents and Africa, to
4 spend this moments with us; accept appreciations for your availability. Your Excellencies ladies and gentlemen, In this moment of reunion of the entire African football family, my thoughts are also with those who, since the last General Assembly, have left us. This is especially for Slim Aloulou who, until his last breath, committed himself to the development of football in Africa. CAF's Order of Merit in Gold will be awarded to him tomorrow during our working session for all his undertakings. I urge you to pray fervently for the grace of the Almighty God to be upon the families of the departed, and to also stand and observe a minute of silence for the peace of the souls of all those who died tragically in our stadia. The occasion that brings us together is first and foremost ordinary. But it is always with much pleasure that I experience these moments, the fruit of some extraordinary investment. Especially for those who know the sacrifices that many of you will have to undertake, to honour these sessions with your presence and play an active role.
5 May be we do not think about it often enough, but football is not, to many of those present here, just a passion, or some sacrificial service, wherein they invest time and energy, at times putting their health and the stability of their families in peril. So, for some to put aside their businesses, and for others the important responsibilities that they have apart from football, is such a sacrifice that must be saluted appropriately. A sacrifice not in vain, as the General Assembly sessions are key moments in the life of our Organisation. In fact no one, be it the President of CAF, for instance, or be it the Executive Committee, or any member association, can, according to our statutes, take the place of the General Assembly which is the supreme occasion that oversees the observance of the guiding principles of our Confederation. The General Assembly is above everything and everyone. It sets the scope, and we simply conduct the boat to safety, with your blessings and support. After this reminder, all that is left is to wish that as usual our sessions should be marked by sincere, courteous and enriching discussions and with end
6 resolutions capable of strengthening the structure of African football and ensure greater development. On that note, I declare the 37th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football open. Long live African football! Let's celebrate Africa! Thanks for you kind attention!