Midlands Correspondent
ASPIRING Zifa Central Soccer League (CSL) chairman Stanley Chapeta launched his campaign manifesto amid pomp and fanfare at a Gweru hotel on Saturday night pledging to attract sponsorship. Elections for the vacant post will be held on March 6. Everyone that attended the launch was given a campaign t-shirt.
The CSL board member for administration claimed that he had already secured a sponsor for the 2016 season.
“I have decided to stand for this position because when I was working at Zimasco, my job was very demanding and I had very little time to enjoy the game that I love most. Now that I’m retired, 90 percent of my time will be devoted to football,” said Chapeta.
“If elected chairman I’ll bring in sponsorship. Hadn’t it been for the sponsor, I wouldn’t have hosted this manifesto launch now, but I’m not in a position to reveal the sponsor now because I haven’t yet won the election,” he said.
The event was attended by some CSL clubs, football legends, coaches and others from the football fraternity who pledged their support for Chapeta.
Zifa Midlands chairman Brian Chishanga, who has previously expressed interest in contesting the chairmanship, attended the event, but was tight-lipped on reports that he has pulled out.
Whawha chairperson Musa Ntonga and inaugural CSL chairman Patrick Hokonya are the other aspirants for the post.
Chapeta has over 29 years experience in mainstream football administration that started at Chrome Stars in 1987.
He was team manager when Chrome Stars were promoted into the Premier Soccer League in 2003.
Following the formation of the CSL in 2010, the Kwekwe-based football administrator was elected board member for competitions before returning to the board in the 2014 elections in charge of administration.
He once held the post of CSL secretary-general in 2011 after the ejection of Wellington Ngulube.
Chapeta is a holder of a Fifa Level 2 administrator’s certificate.