Elizabeth Langa
Senior Sports Reporter
FIFTY-EIGHT councillors will this afternoon decide the destiny of Zimbabwean football when they vote for a new Zifa executive committee.
Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, South African-based businessman Trevor Carelse-Juul, former Premier Soccer League secretary-general Leslie Gwindi and former Warriors’ defender and 1984 Soccer Star of the Year James Takavada are all vying for domestic football’s top job, promising to transform the Zimbabwean game.
Chiyangwa embarked on a whirlwind tour of the provinces and regions for the second time on Wednesday in a last ditch effort to curry favour with the football electorate and succeed Cuthbert Dube after his mandate was revoked together with his entire board.
Carelse-Juul and Gwindi also swept through Bulawayo, the Midlands and other areas selling their candidatures to the 58 men and women that will literally determine the destiny of Zimbabwean football.
Chiyangwa said he was ready to take charge of Zimbabwean football.
“Unless something dramatic happens, I believe I’ve charmed the councillors and they’re ready to vote me into office,” he said.
He said Zifa needs to rebuild and restore corporate governance so that it can reposition itself as a credible institution.
The councillors will also vote for the Zifa vice-president being contested by Bulawayo businessman Omega Sibanda and former Dynamos chairman Lincoln Mutasa.
Southern Region boss Musa Mandaza, former Fifa panel referee Wilfred Mukuna, beach soccer chairperson Joseph Musariri, Caps United chairman Lewis Uriri, Eastern Region chairman Piraishe Mabena, Beadle Gwasira from the now defunct Lengthens, Jackson Munyaka, Central Region chairman, Felton Kamambo and Phillimon Machana are all eyeing the four board members’ posts.
The other two will be filled by a women’s football representative and the Premier Soccer League. Acting women’s football chairperson Elizabeth Langa told the media last week that she had been recommended to take up the women’s slot by her assembly.
Voting councillors
1 Dennis Tshuma — Matabeleland North province chairman
2 Washington Chimhanda —Bulawayo province chairman
3 Brian Chishanga — Midlands province chairman
4 Kuziwa Nyabeze — Manicaland province chairman
5 Gilbert Saika — Mashonaland Central province chairman
6 Owen Chandamale — Harare province chairman
7 David Mpuli — Mashonaland East province chairman
8 Nkosilathi Ncube — Matabeleland South province chairman
9 Derick Matapuri — Mashonaland West province chairman
10 Wellington Muchemwa — Masvingo province chairman
11. Willard Manyengavana —Northern Region chairman
12 Martin Kweza — Northern Region vice-chairman
13 Robert Mamvura — Mat North Paralympic Region board member
14 Stanslous Nyachowe —Northern Region board member
15 Piraishe Mabhena — Eastern Region chairman
16 Cyril Mukweva — Eastern Region vice-chairman
17 Davison Muchena — Eastern Region board member
18 Wisdom Simba — Eastern Region board member
19 Musa Mandaza — Southern Region chairman
20 Gaylord Madhunguza — Southern Region vice-chairman
21 Tumediso Ndlovu — Southern Region board member
22 Brighton Malandule — Southern Region board member
23 Felton Kamambo — Central Region chairman
24 Patrick Hill — Central Region vice-chairman
25 Chalton Moyo — Central Region board member
26 Stanley Chapeta — Central Region board member
27 Albert Macheka — Nash chairman
28 Arthur Maphosa — Nash vice-chairman
29 Elton Sinyosi — Naph chairman
30 Masimba Chihowa — Naph vice-chairman
31 Martin Zibwi — Tertiary chairman
32 Olivarth Guvuriro — Tertiary vice-chairman
33 Artwell Moyo — Central Region/A Zone chairman
34 Robert Chimutanda — Eastern Region/A Zone chairman
35 Moses Chikoti — Northern Region/A Zone chairman
36 Ndodana Masuku — Southern Region/A Zone chairman
37 Nyasha Mazawana — Fustal chairman
38 Joseph Musariri – Beach football chairman
39 Elizabeth Langa — Women’s Football vice-chairperson
40 Cecilia Gambe — Women’s Football board member
41 Beaullah Musara — Women’s Football Regional board
42 Ndakachinyei Robson — Women’s Football Regional board
43 Twine Phiri — CAPS United chairman
44 Peter Dube — Highlanders FC chairman
45 Dumisani Sisale — FC Platinum chairman
46 Tendai Chitowa — Buffaloes chairman
47 Lifa Ncube — Chicken Inn chairman
48 James Zibowa — How Mine FC chairman
49 Alois Masepe — Harare City FC chairman
50 Nelson Chikwature — Flame Lily FC chairman
51 Lovemore Matikiyidze — Triangle FC chairman
52 Joseph Zulu — Hwange FC chairman
53 Musa Ntonga — WhaWha FC chairman
54 Francis Dongo — Dongo Sawmill FC chairman
55 M Nduna — ZPC Kariba FC chairman
56 Ryan Neil — Armstrong Chapungu FC chairman
57 Mandla Gumbo — Tsholotsho FC chairman
58 Kenny Mubaiwa — Dynamos FC chairman