Dingilizwe Ntuli, Sports  Editor
HOW did Zifa go from being bad to really bad within 12 months with a new administration? Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa and his board were thrust into office on December 5, 2015, on a platform of fresh hope that good administration and the game’s development would finally grow, but it instead has been 12 months littered with chaos, confusion, bickering and senseless suspensions.

The time after Cuthbert Dube’s departure has really been marked by crucial missteps, ego clashes and generally poor administration that have seen football administrators competing to dominate the sports pages for their boardroom blunders or extraordinary arrogance, leaving players of the game very little space.

From the “weekend special” sacking and re-engagement of Warriors’ coach Callisto Pasuwa at the beginning of this year to wanton suspensions without hearings of officials, the ill-conceived attempted dissolution of Zifa and stillbirth of Nafaz, and the ongoing promotion and relegation fiasco involving the PSL, Zifa, as domestic football’s governing body, has shown no vision nor solid plans for the national game to progress and succeed.

The most annoying aspect is that the December 2015 elections had presented an opportunity, which has clearly been missed, for Zifa to clean up its image, but the elected officials failed to build on their campaign promises. Sadly, failure to conform to tenets of good governance continues to be the cornerstone of the national association.

This has created room for confusion and corruption, and one needs not look further than the running of the four regional Zifa leagues. Some teams accumulated substantial points in the boardroom than on the field of play. One of the teams actually clinched the league title in its region through this method, defeating the whole purpose of fair play.

As a result, Zifa does not enjoy public goodwill because it has not concerned itself with being answerable and accountable to its major stakeholders, the fans.

Zifa’s self-serving and short-sighted actions were on display through its constitutional committee chairman Itai Ndudzo in yesterday’s edition of Chronicle Sport dismissing the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) mediation in the promotion and relegation impasse with the PSL.

Ndudzo boasted that Zifa does not recognise the application filed by the PSL with CAS, insisting that the league needed to first exhaust domestic remedies over the promotion and relegation dispute. Ndudzo said Zifa would “not be intimidated by communication from CAS” as it was treating the PSL and the 16 clubs as different entities. He argues that the clubs and PSL are members of Zifa.

Such utterances only serve to sink Zifa into disrepute and to allow the local game to be viewed with a mixture of sadness and contempt. That the 16 PSL clubs, since Ndudzo says they don’t recognise the PSL, took the dispute to CAS in Switzerland, is proof enough that they have no faith in the Zifa systems. Ndudzo says there is already a process led by Piraishe Mabhena and comprising PSL club representatives attending to the issue, but what he did not reveal is that it deadlocked. Even the arbitral tribunal he alludes to is bound to fail because Zifa seems to be approaching the matter with an agenda to capture the PSL.

After all, Zifa councillors, excluding PSL clubs, plunged the game into chaos by seeking to force the PSL to relegate two and promote four teams, expanding the topflight league to an unsustainable 18 teams. The timing of the resolution was questionable, as it was made with two games to the end of the season.

No one knows what’s going on and teams that won the regional Zifa leagues also don’t know where they will be playing next season. Even Castle Lager PSL sponsors Delta Beverages expressed frustration at the Zifa orchestrated commotion and were non-committal about renewing their association with topflight football in the 2017 season. It seems Zifa is unmoved by the sponsor’s disquiet, a move likely to scare other potential sponsors, risking condemning the top-tier league to a “sponsorless” season. Only Zifa can drag such an important issue into the off-season and with the festive season approaching and the Warriors taking part in the African Cup of Nations in early January, the impasse might continue into the 11th hour, making planning for the 2017 season a herculean task.

Zifa should spare us its CAS bravado and urgently address the continuous pathetic administrative issues bedeviling the national association that sunk us into this mess in the first place. Ndudzo should instead be apologising to the soccer loving public for this disgraceful episode instead of further embarrassing the local game with his “war” talk. Zifa shouldn’t continue to harbour people that are singularly preoccupied with holding onto positions instead of restructuring themselves to provide a more effective administration.

It’s time for Chiyangwa to stand up and make his mark by going the extra mile to restore sanity, credibility and efficiency at Zifa by reining in the chaos fomented by his four regions that want to usurp control of the national game. Some of these officials are just using Zifa as a weapon to make money.

Bruce Kangwa

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE stage is set for tonight’s Highlanders’ awards ceremony to be held at the Bulawayo Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality, with 23 club legends confirming their attendance.

Club legend Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri told journalists that they had secured 23 seats for former players at the banquet, which they would also use as a reunion.

He said some former greats expected to attend the banquet include Edward Dzowa, Jeffery Mpofu, Andrew “Skurupata” Jele, Edwards

“Magungubala” Ndlovu, Chris Mhlanga, Mark Watson, Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda, Alexander Maseko and Josiah Nxumalo.
Phiri said Maseko and Nxumalo are expected in Bulawayo from South Africa this morning.

“We’re coming as former players to just give encouragement to these youngsters. We’re hoping to mingle and rekindle lots of memories at the awards ceremony while celebrating this institution’s 90th year celebrations,” said Phiri.

“Unfortunately there are some players we had hoped will come, but will not be able to attend. We sent an invitation to Bruce Grobbelaar, but we haven’t received his reply and at this stage I don’t think we’ll have a late surprise from him as travelling from Canada needs real commitment.

Hopefully we will have him and other club legends at future functions.”

Football legend Peter Ndlovu has also been ruled out of the Highlanders’ stars awards as his team Mamelodi Sundowns is in Japan for the Fifa Club World Cup.

Bosso have braced for a glamorous celebrations despite Peter and Grobbelaar’s absence.

Highlanders will give out 15 accolades tonight.

Awards will be for the Player of the Season, Top Goal Scorer; Outstanding New-comer; Most Promising Player, Most Disciplined Player; Longest Serving Player; scorer of the most spectacular goal(s); Goalkeeper of the Season; Players’ Player of the Season; Captain’s Award; Most Consistent Player; Most Improved Player; Best Junior Player in Division One; Supporters’ Player of the Year and Supporter of the year.

The club’s vice-captain Erick Mudzingwa is guaranteed the longest player accolade, having made his debut in 2007.

Bruce Kangwa, who scored seven goals before moving to Tanzania’s Azam FC during the mid-season break, will take the top scorer’s award.
Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa, his defensive partner Tendai Ndlovu, midfielder Rahman Kutsanzira, Simon Munawa, Mudzingwa, goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and rookie Prince Dube all look set to be honoured. – @ZililoR

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay has said his return to the club next year will be determined by Bosso’s ability to pay his 2017 salary.

The Dutchman leaves for his home country on Monday

Akbay, who became a Highlanders fans’ favourite after ending a nine-year jinx against Dynamos by orchestrating back-to-back league wins over DeMbare, said he is committed to the club and his only condition was getting his dues.

“Someone asked me if I know that the club’s sponsorship is coming to an end and I said yes. He went on to ask if I’ll return if my salary is not paid and I asked him if he will go to work without being paid and he said no. It’s too far from home to come here for nothing,” Akbay said at the club’s press conference yesterday.

Highlanders, whose five-year sponsorship deal with BancABC, who have been taking care of the squad salaries, comes to an end this month and the Bulawayo giants are praying the financial institution extends the deal.

The Dutchman, who will be in charge of Highlanders’ last match in 2016 against Dynamos on Sunday in a Bosso 90 celebration challenge game, hopes to be away from Bulawayo for about six weeks.

Responding to his club’s ability to take care of Akbay’s salary, Highlanders’ secretary-general Emmet Ndlovu said: “The question is not about the BancABC sponsorship coming to an end, but about Highlanders paying his salary. There is no way we can bring him down here without his salary. If you see him coming here next year, know we have the money.”

Besides the salary issue, Akbay said he has had a great stay at Highlanders and heaped praises on the players for their hard work.

Under Akbay, Highlanders finished the season in third position behind champions Caps United and FC Platinum.

At some stage, Bosso looked like title contenders, only to falter at the penultimate stage.

“I’m proud of my boys. The way they really wanted to learn really surprised me at times. I’ve seen lots of good things in this squad. You look at Rahman (Kutsanzira), I heard a lot of strange things before coming to Highlanders, but he became a key member of our midfield together with Simon Munawa, who started off badly. Prince Dube also surprised me, and for a 19-year-old, who was making his debut PSL season to do well against giants like Dynamos, surprised me.

“Throughout the year I saw that these boys can do better every day and that is why I decided to show people what the future of the club looks like on the last day when we beat Hwange 3-0. We won because of tactical things, but the youngsters showed in that game that they were learning a lot at training,” Akbay said.

— @ZililoR

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A former Zambian Super League player has made sensational claims that a number of the Cosafa Under-20 squad players have been playing top flight football for more than four years, making their ages questionable.

According to information at hand, the Zambian players are between 17 and 19 years, meaning some started playing topflight football at the ages of 15 or even 14.

The physically imposing Zambians overran their Group B counterparts Zimbabwe 5-1 in the opening match of the 2016 PPC Cosafa Under-20 Championships that got underway in South Africa on Wednesday.

For a country touted as one of the tournament favourites to lose by such a margin is shocking, but claims by the former championship winning player brings a whole new dimension to the equation.

“Most of them (players) have been in the Premiership for four or more years now and I knew from the moment I saw the line-up that you guys (Zimbabweans) are not going to match them. Their experience is too much for your youngsters,” said the player.

However, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga refuted the claims and said records are there to prove that his players are of the right age.

Asked if FAZ would be willing to subject its players to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to ascertain their correct ages, Kamanga said:

“The scan only works for players under the age of 17 years, anyone older than that the result is always questionable.”

But if the organisers demand that, said Kamanga, then they will cooperate.

“Records could be there my brother, but I can tell you that the situation here in Zambia is different, especially the way they do their registrations for identity particulars. We have had players who burst into the scene as supposed teenagers only to retire at 26 or even before that because your proper age would have caught up with you. Surely how can someone retire at 26 and go into coaching; it’s just strange,” said the player.

Zambia were recently slapped with a two-year ban from all Cosafa Youth tournaments after fielding two over-age players at the Cosafa Under-17 Championships in Mauritius.

The players, Benjamin Phiri and Nicholas Mulilo, were banned from competing in all Cosafa competitions for a period of two years. Coach Osward Mutapa and team manager Collins Phiri were also affected by the ban.

However, the ban was lifted after FAZ paid the $5 000 fine by October 15, 2016, as imposed by the Cosafa disciplinary committee. “Yes, they paid their fine,” said Cosafa’s Lynda Greef.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Royals and their netball counterparts, Queens have taken over the running of Hlabangana Sports Club situated at the Highlanders Sports Club in an effort to make the two clubs self reliant.

Acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya confirmed the latest development and said modalities on how the two teams will run the club are still being worked out.

“We long agreed that our football and netball teams can use Hlabangana Sports Club and just recently they started doing some clean up inside there to make sure the place is presentable. I understand they want to make it an exclusive pub with lounge suites,” said Ngwenya.

Former Highlanders player and manager Lawrence Lofty Phiri is mediating the deal but it is believed Highlanders wants the two teams to get their stocks from the main club house and put their own mark up for profits.

“We are happy that we have been given Hlabangana Sports Club but we feel the position that we get stocks from the club house is putting us in a rather difficult position because it will be hard for patrons to buy beer at a price higher than that of the club house barely 200 metres away. It would be okay if they allow us to order straight from the suppliers and sell at the same price as the main club, we will not be competing but that little that we will get will go a long way for us,” said a member of the Royals executive.

Highlanders Queens Netball Club plays in the Bulawayo Netball League while the football team, Royals play in the Southern Region Women Football Association League which also has a team in Hwange making their budget needs critical. They have been relying mainly on the benevolence of Bosso life member and businessman Kenneth Mhlophe.

Hlabangana Sports Club, named after the late founder member, player and club president Nsele, has been lying idle for a long time now with the club leadership sometimes leasing it out for some private functions. It was originally meant for card carrying Highlanders members who wanted to enjoy their drink in a relaxed atmosphere compared to the main club house.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo and Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
THE 2016 edition of the Youth Education through Sports Games get underway in Hwange this morning under a cloud after the death of three Ministry of Sport and Recreation officials in Norton on Thursday on their way to the coal mining town for the games.

While the Ministry of Sport and Recreation officials were not forthcoming with the names, Chronicle Sport has gathered that Regis Chabata, one Fusire and Mpandase died on the spot while travelling on a CMED bus that overturned moments after the trio had boarded it.

Burzil Dube, the YES Games’ local organising committee chief executive officer, expressed sorrow on the unfortunate calamity and said all their games will begin with  a minute of silence in honour of the trio.

“It’s a sad state of affairs for us and a huge loss to the nation.  They were constantly here conducting workshops only to fail to see the fruit of their knowledge. In their honour we will have a minute of silence across the various matches,” said Dube.

Meanwhile, the Games’ head of secretariat in the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Newman Masuku said:

“The games will start tomorrow (today). All the logistics for accreditation are in place at the command centre at Hwange High School.  All the technical officers and volunteers will also undergo an induction at the same place. Preceding the games will be a National Sports Forum meeting at the Little Theatre where the main issues for discussion will be the new sports and recreation policy which was launched this year, the rebranded National Youth Games and need to adopt a national colour for national and international games.”

The venues for the games are Coalfields, Thomas Coulter, Lwendulu and Megawatt primary schools and Lwendulu Old ground.

“As the hosts we are very happy with the state of the venues and the general preparedness by the province and the hosting town in particular and we hope there will be lots of fun and competition for the next three days,” added Masuku.

The YES Games target the under-15 age group and are anchored on three pillars namely sport, peer education and community service with disciplines being volleyball (both male and females); football (both male and females) and netball.

The games serve as a precursor to the National Youth Games which the same province will host in August next year.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Mat North Province Affairs Cain Mathema will officially open the games tomorrow at the Colliery Stadium with the closing ceremony and prize giving ceremony slated for the same venue at 4pm the following day.

The theme for this year’s YES Games is “Unethical practices, a barrier to youth development through sport.”

Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea juggernaut rolls back into action against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow with the Premier League leaders chasing a ninth consecutive win.

Chelsea produced the most impressive display of their winning streak last weekend when they came from behind to win 3-1 at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

They have not won nine successive league games within the same season since 2007 and ahead of West Brom’s visit, Marcos Alonso has urged his team-mates not to let their level drop.

“Winning game after game gives you confidence, but you have to keep working,” the Spanish wing-back told the Chelsea website.

“The results give you confidence to work in this way, though. We have got to use this momentum of the last eight league games and go on to have another good game against West Brom now.”

While most of Chelsea’s title rivals have been in European action this week, Conte’s side have once again had a full week to prepare for the visit of Tony Pulis’ side.

It is 32 years since West Brom last won at Chelsea, but they have drawn on two of their last three visits and have climbed to seventh in the table on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.

“(Chelsea) are on a great run of form,” West Brom manager Pulis told the club website.

“The manager’s come in and he’s changed things around and got the players playing the way they can. It’s a wonderful, wonderful squad of players.

But we’ll go there and do our best.”

Guardiola’s City will look to kick their title challenge back into gear when they visit unravelling champions Leicester City today.

The ill-tempered defeat at Chelsea’s hands left a mark, with Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho picking up red cards that will keep them out until after  Christmas.

City have slipped to fourth place in the table, four points below Chelsea, and although Leicester are toiling in 16th place, Pablo Zabaleta is taking nothing for granted.

“Always it’s a difficult place to go. Even if they are not doing great in the domestic competition, they are still a good team, very competitive,” said the City                                                      right-back.

“It is going to be a tough game. We need to win and get three points after the big defeat last weekend to stay in the fight for the title.”

While City have won their last three away matches in the league, they have won just four of their last 14 games in all competitions as Guardiola continues to search for a durable winning formula.

His problems pale in comparison, however, beside those of Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who saw a second-string side trounced 5-0 by Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.

With seven defeats already, Leicester’s league form is as alarming as last season’s was astonishing and has left them just two points above the relegation zone.

Second-place Arsenal, three points behind Chelsea, can provisionally take over at the summit if they beat Stoke City by two goals or more at the Emirates Stadium today.

Alexis Sanchez’s hat-trick fired Arsenal to a 5-1 win at West Ham United last weekend, which was followed by a superb 4-1 win at Basel in the Champions League, but manager Arsene Wenger feels there is more to come.

“I feel the team is on the way upwards,” he said.

“But we have as well to show that first of all we can improve, that we have the desire to improve as a team, and as well, that we can repeat the performances week in, week out.

“Stoke is another challenge for us that we can reset, refocus and continue our development and take the points.”

Like Chelsea, third-place Liverpool have had a week off to prepare for tomorrow’s home game with West Ham.

Manchester United, in contrast, entertain Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow just two days after returning from a gruelling Europa League trip to play Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk.

Jose Mourinho’s side, currently sixth, trail fifth-place Spurs by six points and will have a mountain to climb in terms of Champions League qualification if they lose at Old Trafford.

Fixtures

Today (3pm GMT unless otherwise stated):         Arsenal v Stoke, Burnley v Bournemouth, Hull v Crystal Palace, Leicester v Man City (5.30pm GMT), Swansea v Sunderland, Watford v Everton (12.30pm GMT)

Tomorrow (2.15pm GMT unless otherwise    stated): Chelsea v West Brom (12pm GMT), Liverpool v West Ham (4.30pm GMT), Man United v Tottenham, Southampton v Middlesbrough

Table

P    Team    P    W    D    L    GF    GA    GD    Pts

1    Chelsea    14    11    1    2    32    11    21    34

2    Arsenal    14    9    4    1    33    14    19    31

3    Liverpool    14    9    3    2    35    18    17    30

4    Manchester City    14    9    3    2    30    15    15    30

5    Tottenham Hotspur    14    7    6    1    24    10    14    27

6    Man United    14    5    6    3    19    16    3    21

7    West Brom Albion    14    5    5    4    20    17    3    20

8    Everton    14    5    5    4    17    16    1    20

9    Stoke City    14    5    4    5    16    19    -3    19

10    AFC Bournemouth    14    5    3    6    19    22    -3    18

11    Watford    14    5    3    6    18    24    -6    18

12    Southampton    14    4    5    5    13    15    -2    17

13    Middlesbrough    14    3    6    5    13    15    -2    15

14    Crystal Palace    14    4    2    8    24    26    -2    14

15    Burnley    14    4    2    8    12    23    -11    14

16    Leicester City    14    3    4    7    17    24    -7    13

17    West Ham United    14    3    3    8    15    29    -14    12

18    Sunderland    14    3    2    9    14    24    -10    11

19    Hull City    14    3    2    9    11    29    -18    11

20    Swansea City    14    2    3    9    16    31    -15    9

— AFP

Connor Thompson

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ALL is set for the Bulawayo Motoring Club’s end of year event — Toyota Castrol Three-Hour Endurance Race to be held today at the Bulawayo Motorsport Park, formerly known as Victoria Falls Road Circuit.

Fifty-five racers, of which 40 will compete in cars with 15 on motorbikes have registered for the event that will see local participants battling it out with competitors from Botswana, South Africa and England.

Bikers will compete in a one-hour endurance race at 1PM with the main race, the Toyota Castrol 3-Hour Endurance starting at 3PM.

Defending three-hour race champion and crowd favourite Darren Winterboer will be hoping to win his six consecutive title with his BMW 335i. Winterboer won last year’s edition with 122 laps which came short of his 127 winning laps in 2014.

Winterboer comes to race oozing with confidence following a  recent victory at the Extreme Supercar series in South Africa.

South Africa’s Shelby Can Am arrived with six cars on Thursday with Botswana’s super fast Nardini arriving yesterday morning for the race.
Toyota Zimbabwe will field three cars which will be driven by Ian Howden, Jesse Watson, Jephter Chingura and Hilton Harunavamwe.

“I’m ready for the race and we’re looking forward to tomorrow,” said Chingura.

On motorcycles, 14-year-old British-born Zimbabwean rider Connor Thompson who competed at the British Superbikes recently and teenage sensation Savannah Woodward will race for South Africa’s Monroe Racing Club.

Shaun Whyte will be defending his title on the motorbike side with his Yamaha R6. He won the one hour race with 45 laps in the previous event followed closely by Dave Mouat and Cam Aitken also with 45 laps on a Honda CBR. Mathew Shultz completed with 43 laps falling into third place and the quartet should expect stiff challenge from Thompson.

Thompson has been delivering good results which saw him grabbing the attention of front running teams. For the 2016 season, Connor signed for Team Steelmate Racing and finished a very impressive sixth in the championship despite missing the first four rounds, also bagging two wins and four second-place finishes.

In the women’s category, all eyes will be on 16-year-old Woodward who has been prolific this year, having competed in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her highlight was being selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup trials in Spain.

Other female bikers expected at the BMC event are Bianca Schultz from Bulawayo, who will ride a Honda CBR600 and is expected to face stiff competition from Harare’s Tiffany Fisher, who will also be using a similar bike.

These two competitors have improved steadily in recent years, with Tiffany winning last year’s Megelli 250 cc Zimbabwe National Championship.

— @ZililoR

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Karate Association (BMKA) is hosting the 2016 provincial tournament at Bulawayo Bowling Club today.

The competition will run under Japan Karate Association (JKA) rules in the categories of kata (forms) and kumite (fighting) for both Junior and Senior fighters.

A strong field of more than 40 contestants is expected to feature at the tournament which is returning to the city after a long time and different styles which include Shito-Ryu, JKA Shotokan, Kimura Shukokai International and Sankukai dragons are expected.

The junior categories will range from participants aged five-18years while the seniors will feature in the Under-70kg, U-78kg and over 78kg categories.

BMKA technical director Ndabezinhle Mazibuko said the competition will be a good platform for experienced and upcoming fighters to showcase their skills.

“We expect a high level of competition that will without doubt showcase the quality of karate in the province. Whether one wins or loses, we expect this competition to allow us to monitor the talent at our disposal as we prepare fighters for the national team,” he said.

“It’s been a couple of years since we had such tournaments as a province so we can say this is the first step towards the revival of karate in Bulawayo. As the association we also aim to build a team that will participate at the national championships to be held in Harare next week,” Mazibuko said. — @khumzallen

Philip Chiyangwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has thrown his hat into the Cosafa presidential race whose elections will be held next week.

The elections would be held soon after the Cosafa Under-20 championships which are ongoing in South Africa, ends.

The flamboyant Harare property mogul will face South Africa Football Association president Danny Jordan, who staged a last minute withdrawal from the race to the same post in 2011. Also in the race is Frans Mbidi of Namibia, Mohammed Sobha of Mauritius, Pedro Neto of Angola, and Mozambique’s Alberto Junior.

Nominations closed on Thursday for the biggest football post in the Southern Region, presently held by Suketu Patel of Seychelles.

“Yes, I am in. I have entered the race and I remain confident of landing the post,” said Chiyangwa yesterday.

Besides the presidential elections, the delegates will also vote for the vice president and five executive committee members.

Zimbabwe has previously held the Cosafa vice presidency post through Wellington Nyatanga but Chiyangwa believes he has the right credentials to land the post, which also assures the incumbent a Caf executive committee membership.

Chiyangwa will face stiff competition from Jordan although the all powerful Caf president Issa Hayatou is said to be against the 2010 Fifa World Cup organising committee chairman’s candidature.

John Nyumbu

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Metropolitan Tuskers team captain John Nyumbu has set his sights on leading his side back to Logan Cup cricket glory when the 2016-17 season starts today.

Tuskers begin their hunt for glory in the four-day game with a home tie against Rhinos at Queens Sports Club.

Tuskers were runners-up to archrivals Harare Metropolitan Eagles last season.

A lot is expected from Tuskers who won the Logan Cup four times since the start of franchise cricket in 2009-2010 season.

Tuskers won the trophy for three consecutive seasons and last season they lost it to Eagles.

“At the start of every season we strive to better past performances and improve our game so that we win games leading to trophies. That desire to do better is still the same and we’re going out for everything on offer,” said Nyumbu.

The spin bowler sees no reason why his team will struggle in the 2016-17 season as they had near perfect preparations which left Tuskers players eager to play.

“I think we had one of the best preparations, firstly because most of the players are from Bulawayo which meant we had enough time together and secondly we had our guys training with the national team which trained for some time here Bulawayo. Our bowlers and batsmen did work with the national team, which I believe helped them a lot. Even the composition of our squad is balanced as it is a mixture of youngsters and experienced guys which presents a good selection headache for team selectors,” said Nyumbu.

Tuskers welcome back allrounder Sean Williams, pace bowler Njabulo Ncube and 20-year-old Ainsley Ndlovu in their squad.  Besides the returning trio, some of Tuskers players expected to carry the Bulawayo side through are Richmund Mutumbami, Brian Chari, Christopher Mpofu, Tafara Mupariwa, Thabo Mboyi, Keith Dabengwa and Nyumbu.

Highlanders will be without striker Prince Dube who had good performances against Dynamos in both league matches.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay is looking forward to ending his year at the side with a victory over perennial rivals Dynamos who they face tomorrow at Barbourfields Stadium in a challenge match meant to celebrate Bosso’s 90 years of existence.

Akbay, who became a Highlanders fans’ favourite after ending a nine-year jinx against Dynamos by orchestrating back-to-back league wins over DeMbare, envisages a victory over the Harare side who he says come to Barbourfields as “friends” who they have to beat.

Asked if he is tempted to field youngsters against Dynamos, Akbay said: “Sunday’s game is more than a friendly because the club celebrates 90 years. When rivals want to help us they become our friends. Nothing is sweeter than winning against your friend and we’re going for victory on Sunday.”

The Bosso youngsters put a stellar show against Hwange on the last day of the season, beating the coalminers 3-0.  Akbay’s comment at the Thursday press conference suggests that he will field a strong side.

Highlanders will be without striker and PSL Rookie of the Year winner Prince Dube who had good performances against Dynamos in both league matches.

Other players out of tomorrow’s game are injured duo of Gabriel Nyoni and Nhlanhla Ndlovu as well as Bukhosi Ncube who is with the national Under-20 squad participating at Cosafa, South Africa alongside Dube.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa, Rahman Kutsanzira, Simon Munawa, Erick Mudzingwa and Ariel Sibanda are expected to lead Bosso’s hunt for victory.

On the other hand, Dynamos’ hopes will be pinned on national team goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, ex-Bosso duo of Marshal Machazane and Masimba Mambare, Soccer Star of the Year finalist Godknows Murwira, Rodrick Mutuma, Wisdom Mutasa and sought -after Bret  Amidu.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Highlanders and Dynamos game have lined-up lots of festivities at Barbourfields Stadium with supporters for both teams facing each other in a curtain raiser.

Highlanders legends who include United  States based Thulani “Biya” Ncube, Douglas Mloyi, Zenzo Moyo, Rahman Gumbo, Lawrence Phiri, Dumisani Nyoni  and Dazzy Kapenya among others will play Bulawayo based sports journalists.

Clement Magwaza,, Harsh Touch and a number of musical groups will perform at intervals.

— @ZililoR

Kenny Mubaiwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE uncertainty over the relegation and promotion issue was put to rest yesterday with Zifa confirming that all the four regional Division One champions will be promoted to the elite league while two will face the chop from the Premiership.

In a statement yesterday, Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa also said Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa has been appointed acting chairperson of the Premier Soccer League. Mubaiwa has been chairman of the PSL emergency committee which has been running the league.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive Committee hereby informs the football fraternity and the nation that TWO teams will be relegated from the Premier Soccer League in the just ended season and FOUR teams will be promoted into the top-flight league for the 2017 season,” reads the statement signed by Chiyangwa.

The position now awaits Zifa congress for rectification.

“The Zifa Executive Committee has also appointed Kenny Mubaiwa as the Acting Chairperson of the Premier Soccer League and he is authorised to represent Premier Soccer League clubs as their chief.

Advocate Lewis Uriri remains suspended from all football activities after he rejected the association’s kind gesture to lift his suspension. Peter Dube, Ndumiso Gumede, Philani Ncube and Jerry Sibanda also remain suspended until the next Zifa congress,” says the statement.

Uriri resigned as a board of governor in the PSL last week, according to a letter he wrote to other governors where he also accused some unnamed governors of backtracking on agreed resolutions.

“I am disappointed to learn that there are some amongst us who contend that the resolutions of congress are ‘Uriri’s baby’, and that I instigated congress to pursue a confrontational path against Zifa. The suggestion that [because of my instigation] some governors would not have voted the way they did is as dishonest as it is unfounded. I certainly do not have that kind of influence over congress. In any event the suggestion that we engage Zifa as soon as possible and that a negotiated settlement was in the best interests of football came from me.

You will observe gentlemen, that I have copied my club president in this email. This is because having agonized over the unfair treatment I appear to be getting from some of us, my decision to stay on in football was a huge mistake. I have my law practice as well as my other business and family interests to take care of. Sports administration is a sacrifice that I have had to make. In the result, I have decided that my club president immediately assumes the governorship of Caps United FC. I will, as per my previous wishes, commence the process of a smooth disengagement from all football related matters at all levels of the game,” reads part of Uriri’s letter to his fellow governors.

— @ZililoR

Ellina Mhlanga, Harare Bureau
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have implored participants at the various workshops held by IAAF lecturer Torsten Tesch in Harare recently to put into practice what they learnt.  

Tesch, from Germany was in the country for two weeks. He focused on talent identification and development, kids athletics and wrapped up his busy schedule with a three-day seminar in jumps at Belvedere Teachers’ College last week.

NAAZ director for coaching, talent identification and development, Lisimati Phakamile said it was an interesting programme with detailed courses that he believes can turnaround the fortunes for Zimbabwe if implemented.

“We started with talent identification and its development where we looked at a number of critical points that we in Zimbabwe need to look at and embrace.

“We went down as far as where do we identify talent, how do we pick it and nurture it. Participants looked at different trends from different European countries, how do they do it and we also designed our own here in Zimbabwe, on how to identify talent and nurture it.

“We also looked at different means of testing athletes, that’s testing for physical fitness, testing for potential athleticism and mobility means. Then we looked at multilateral training methods of identified talent, of which I believe this was vital and important for coaches here in Zimbabwe. So I want to implore them to go out there to their schools and teach what they learnt in the courses because it is exactly what is in the syllabus,” said Phakamile.

On the jumps seminar which include pole vault, high jump, long jump and triple jump they were looking at strength development and the modern techniques.

After spending two weeks working with the local athletics family, Tesch said some of the areas Zimbabwe might need to look at in the future includes bridging the gaps between the different age-groups for a more efficient development programme.

The German expatriate also spoke about talent identification and said they looked at different scientific approaches to come up with ideal ideas for Zimbabwe.

“What we did is we summed up the scientific knowledge about it. When you think about the scientific knowledge there is not one right or wrong. There are different systems to approach and all of them do make some compromises. So we have checked out other systems for Australia, South Africa and Europe. How they try to approach this and then we try to sum up ideas that might be possible for Zimbabwe,” said Tesch.

Meanwhile NAAZ have released their 2017 calendar and some of the major events lined up include the IAAF World Under-18 championships in July, in Kenya, World Championships scheduled for in London in August and the World Cross Country Championships.

Zimbabwe will also host next year’s Southern Africa Region Senior Championships in Harare. NAAZ president Tendai Tagara said, “it’s going to be a busy schedule with the association also lining up several local competitions to keep athletes active and camps for the juniors and youths.

“In July our youths are going for the World Under-18 Championships in Kenya. We have already started our preparations. We also have the World Championships in London and the World Cross Country championships in Uganda. Those are the major international events we have.

“We are hosting the Southern Africa Region Senior championships in June, in Harare, which is a major competition because we will be looking at qualifying for the World Championships.

“Locally we have loaded the calendar such that almost every week we have a competition of which the association will sponsor two per month. Nash competition will complement our efforts. We have pencilled camps as early as January. We are targeting three major camps for juniors and youths, so that we work not only on qualification but to have an impact in Kenya,” said Tagara.

Director in charge of junior development, Silas Muringani called for early preparations for next year’s World Championships.

Some of the junior athletes are already in Angola for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games, which are also a qualifying event.

“We have got athletes we know will qualify. The Angola Games are a qualifying event,” said Muringani.

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
HIPPO Valley and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) emerged winners in the men’s and women’s 2016 Southern Region Hockey tournament that ended on Sunday at Kumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo.

Hippo Valley beat Rams 2-1 in the final, while UZ beat BAC Ladies 6-5 in a penalty shootout after their match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Matabeleland Hockey Board (MHB) president Kalpesh Parshotam said the tournament was a success considering that it was the first of its kind.

“The tournament went very well and it was well supported by teams from around Zimbabwe. We look forward to making this an annual competition, as this was a first of its kind and fans must expect more competitive tournaments in future,” said Parshotam.

The three-day tournament saw nine teams, Hippo Valley, Rams, BAC, UZ, Eradicators, Lions, Bulawayo Hockey Club (BHC), Midlands State University (MSU) and Khanimambo, battling for honours in the men’s category.

The teams were split into two pools in a round robin format. Hippo Valley and Rams were victors in their respective pools, which saw them qualifying for the final. In the ladies category, BAC, Hippo Valley, UZ and MSU battled for the crown.

The winner played against the fourth-placed side and the runner-up took on the third-placed team in the semi-final, with the respective winners facing off in the final.

@khumzallen

Agent Sawu

Sports Correspondent
FORMER Warriors and Zimbabwe Saints hitman Agent Sawu turned back the hands of time with some clinical finishing as a guest player for Highlanders Legends at Sigangatsha in Matobo on Saturday.

Sawu scored all four goals in the Bosso Legends’ 4-1 win over Simphathe FC at St Sebastian Secondary School in a match that was the main attraction of the World Human Rights Day Celebrations in Matobo organised by Habbakuk Trust.

Sawu was part of the cast led by former Highlanders player, manager and chairman Ernest Sibanda which delighted the 4 000 plus crowd with some deft touches.

Other legends that took to the field include Simon Sibanda, Wonder Mpofu, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Gift Lunga Jr, Blessing Gumiso, Thabani Masawi, Danny Ngwenya, Wellington Sibanda, Chipo Tsodzo, Joel Luphahla, Zenzo Moyo, Dazzy Kapenya and another guest Ronald Sibanda.

They gave the villagers an afternoon’s worth of entertainment with a display that took fans down memory lane when Bosso were still a fearsome outfit.

Their display impressed former Zifa panel referee Nelson Dube, St Sebastian headmaster John Dube, businessman Elliot Malaba and local traditional leaders. Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa and the MP for the constituency Soul Mahalima were also in attendance.

Dumisani Nkomo, chief executive of Habbakuk Trust, said they had settled for football and netball  which attracted large crowds.

Former Bulawayo mayor who is a commissioner with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Japhet Ndabeni Ncube decried the issue of child marriages.

“It’s illegal to marry a child below the age of 18 and such abuses should be reported. We challenge people of Matabeleland South to report any cases of human rights abuse,” said Ndabeni Ncube.

He said the human rights body enjoyed good working relations with the Government and they engaged different ministries concerning various cases before the Commission.

Ndabeni Ncube said a few cases of human rights abuses were coming from Matabeleland South compared to other provinces.

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10 and this year’s celebrations were held under the theme “Stand up for someone’s rights today”.

Southern Region Women’s football chairperson Takundwa Chimundiya (left) stresses a point during the Thembalethu Foundation Soccer Tournament press conference yesterday. Tournament director Fungai Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka follows proceedings.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SEVEN Bulawayo women’s soccer teams will compete in the inaugural Thembalethu Foundation tournament to be held from December 21-22 at Raylton Sports Club.

New Orleans, Highlanders Royals, Street Sets, Sobukhazi, Borrow Jets, Real Stars and Cowdray Park Queens will take part in the tourney.

Tournament director Fungai Nyamutukwa- Mpfeka, a former national team player and manager, said the objective of the competition is to “change lives and bring hope to girls through football”.

“As Thembalethu Foundation, we have set up a three-year project meant to change lives and bring hope to the girls through football.

“We will do this by hosting tournaments where we are going to donate team kit, individual kit and boots. Members of Thembalethu Foundation living outside Zimbabwe have been at the forefront in terms of sourcing kit and individual prizes that we will give to the winners,” said Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka.

She said they had approached strategic partners like Bakers Inn, Swivel Metal Engineering and Nokel Security, who pledged to support the tournament in kind.

“There is no prize money for this tournament because we feel things like the playing kit, individual kit and boots we’re giving out will leave a lasting legacy and help supplement what the clubs already have. Maybe in future when resources permit we are going to give out money.

“We’re grateful to Nokel Security, Swivel Metal Engineering and Bakers Inn who have shown keen interest in supporting this project meant to help the girl-child,” Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka said.

Southern Region Women’s Football chairperson Takundwa Chimundiya welcomed Thembalethu Foundation’s gesture, which he believes will go a long way in developing game.

“We appreciate this partnership with Thembalethu Foundation, which we hope to see grow to become one of the biggest girl-child empowerment initiatives. Women’s soccer doesn’t enjoy much support and when people come on board, we’re happy. We call on others to emulate them. Our teams are ready for the tournament and are looking forward to the draw that will be held at Raylton Sports Club on Thursday,” said Chimundiya.

@ZililoR

Ruvarashe Makokowe

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
SEVEN-year-old Ruvarashe Makokowe was the toast of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Karate Association (BMKA) Championships held at Bulawayo Bowling Club on Saturday when she scooped two gold medals competing with boys.

Makokowe emerged champion in kata and kumite in the mixed gender category as there were no girls in her age group.

Adele Tshabalala was the other girl without opponents in her 15-16-year age group and ended up competing against senior boys in the Shito-Ryu, but she did not make the final.

She was awarded a gold medal for her age group due to the courage she displayed competing with senior boys.

Although it was originally expected that competition would be in five karate styles, only three styles, Shito-Ryu, JKSA and Sankukai Dragons, were on offer.

Kimura Shukokai International (KSI) excused themselves on the grounds they were holding training sessions in Harare with an international instructor, while most of the JKA Shotokan students are from Nust, which is closed for the holidays.

“Instead of 10 age groups/weight categories, we ended up with just two, that is 7-8 years and senior men categories. This ended up disadvantaging two girls, who bravely decided to compete with their male counterparts while a junior boy competed with the seniors,” said BMKA technical director Ndabezinhle Mazibuko.

“The girls really showed promise and will no doubt acquit themselves well in the national championships on Saturday. Despite others not showing up, the tournament was exciting and we hope they will be able to join us in future competitions.”

In the 7-8-year boys’ category Clifson Moyo and David Manjoro, who were the only participants, scooped gold and silver respectively in both the kata and kumite.

In the senior boys’ kata, Leslie Jawi (17) snatched gold from his brother Mayibongwe, who settled for silver, while Emmanuel Nyathi won bronze.

Advocate Ncube scooped gold in the senior boys’ kumite, Jawi and Rinnah Chikosi took silver and bronze respectively.

@khumzallen

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo called it “a dream come true again” as he won his fourth Ballon d’Or yesterday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi for the title of best player in the world.

It was the perfect ending to another fantastic year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and then led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016 – albeit he went off early injured and in tears in the surprise victory over France.

As has been the case for almost a decade now, the 31-year-old’s main rival was Messi – but the Barcelona and Argentine maestro had to relinquish the crown after a less-than-stellar year for club and country by his lofty standards.

Ronaldo is now one Ballon d’Or behind Messi, who was second this time with French striker Antoine Griezmann third.

Never one to play down his achievements, Ronaldo was spotted midweek in training having dyed his hair gold in anticipation and several media outlets published a photo earlier yesterday appearing to confirm he was the winner, before organisers France Football magazine made the official announcement.

“For me it’s a great honour to receive my fourth Ballon d’Or. The emotion is like the first one – it’s a dream come true again,” Ronaldo, who is at the Club World Cup in Japan, told L’Equipe TV.

“I never thought in my mind to win four times the Ballon d’Or, I’m so pleased and so happy.

“I have to thank all my teammates, the national team, Real Madrid, all the people, the players who helped me to win this individual trophy.

“I want to enjoy this moment because it’s not easy to win this.”

Fourth was Luis Suarez and fifth his fellow Barcelona attacker Neymar, with Ronaldo’s Welsh teammate Gareth Bale sixth.

Ronaldo was the firm favourite to win, but the prestigious prize comes at a time when the prolific forward has generated negative headlines in the past week over accusations of tax evasion.

Denying any wrongdoing, he responded by publishing his financial records last week, showing last year he earned a whopping €227 million.

“You believe I am worried? He who owes nothing, fears nothing,” Ronaldo told broadcaster RTP at the time.

Ronaldo, the highest-paid sportsman in the world, first won the Ballon d’Or in 2008 after Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Manchester United.

But it was only in 2013 that he added his second – Messi had hogged it before then – and Ronaldo made it a hat-trick the following year.

United were quick to offer their congratulations on Twitter, calling a fourth Ballon d’Or “incredible”.

Real said Ronaldo, who last month signed a bumper new five-year contract, had enjoyed “a sensational year”.

The first Ballon d’Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.

The Ballon d’Or is decided by a vote of 173 journalists. — AFP

Esrom Nyandoro

Mehluli Sibanda in Moruleng, South Africa
FORMER Warriors’ midfield maestro Esrom Nyandoro has expressed his disappointment at the national Under-20 team’s exit from the Cosafa Youth Championship at the first hurdle.

Nyandoro, who is at the tournament as an analyst for television rights holders Kwese Sports, felt the Zimbabwean lads lacked co-ordination and likened them to people that just met at the airport for the first time ahead of the tournament.

“I was disappointed because I love my country. I was rallying the boys to win because we all know that our Under-20 and Under-23 sides were among the powerhouses in Africa, but I felt the boys did not click and were just disjointed. Maybe it might be the preparations that were not adequate. It looked like they just met at the airport and came to play,’’ said Nyandoro.

The former Warriors’ skipper said the up-and-coming players failed to showcase their talent. Nyandoro, at the request of coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu, spoke to the players just before they took on Malawi last Friday in their last Group B fixture in an attempt to motivate them following 1-5 drubbing by Zambia. He felt that he did a magnificent job, as Zimbabwe dominated the Young Flames, but could not score the number of goals required for them to remain in the competition.

Zimbabwe were knocked out of the competition they previously won six times when Zambia beat Malawi 3-0 at Moruleng Stadium on Sunday, meaning the Malawians progressed in second place. The Young Warriors required Zambia to beat Malawi 4-0 to stand a chance of making it to the knockout phase.

Meanwhile, the Cosafa Youth Championship concluded its group stage yesterday at Moruleng and Mogwase Stadiums. Zimbabwean referee Nomore Musundire was in charge of the South Africa and Botswana Group A clash at Moruleng Stadium last night.

In the two fixtures lined up for today, Zambia meet Mozambique at Mogwase, while Malawi are up against the DRC, with winners of the two matches making the last four.

The semi-finals are scheduled for tomorrow at Moruleng Stadium, which is also the venue for the final on Friday.

High ranking football officials from the region, including Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa, are expected to start arriving in South Africa’s North West province today ahead of the Cosafa elective annual general meeting to be held on Saturday. Chiyangwa has indicated that he will be contesting the regional body’s presidency and is expected to go head to head with, among others, Safa president Danny Jordaan.

@Mdawini_29