adminPSL clubs have over the last couple of days been caucusing at their strategic planning meeting here. According to highly placed sources in the PSL there are some governors who want Kenny Ndebele out. They want elections for two vacancies held by Hwange’s Joseph Zulu and Eric Rosen who were co-opted into the management committee over the past two years.
Ndebele’s ouster looks set to be shot down as many clubs are happy with his results in his first year as chief executive officer. He instilled a sense of professionalism in the registration of players and administration of the league in 2011 which was the reason for the influx of sponsors in the league.
The sources alleged that PSL boss Twine Phiri, board member responsible for development Cuthbert Chitima and ex-officio member Tinofara Hove, interviewed the Swaziland Football Association chief executive officer identified as Mgomezulu during the weekend FC Platinum played Green Mamba in that country.
PSL boss Phiri confirmed yesterday that he had indeed travelled to Swaziland with the two gentlemen but denied the interview.
“We resolved as the PSL that every team playing in Africa should at least be accompanied by a member of the league. After the Motor Action game in Polokwane I drove to
Swaziland with Hove while Chitima paid his own way.
“We know Mgomezulu from the Harare Declaration Workshop we held some years ago where he was the facilitator and it was only natural that when we met we had lots to talk about. Ndebele is very safe,” said Phiri.
The Caps United major shareholder yesterday said Ndebele was the backbone of the PSL and that he had brought professionalism, maturity and experience to the organisation that would soon begin to pay off. He was speaking on the sidelines of the on-going PSL strategic planning workshop being facilitated by David Mutambara.
“Ndebele is an integral part of PSL and we cannot afford to lose him now. There could be sentiments from other quarters but I can assure the nation that as the PSL president I am happy with progress so far. Look at the way we managed to run last season. It shows we have the potential to move up and be counted among the best leagues on the continent,” said Phiri.
He said the stakeholder confidence in the brand PSL had significantly grown during Ndebele’s first year as chief executive officer.
Some board members are, however, said to be unhappy with the way the secretariat is running the show.
“Ndebele wants things done to the book, I support him. That is the only way we can be successful and effective in the running of the game. This habit of clubs looking for loopholes to exploit even on registration of players will not be tolerated because we want professionalism,” said the PSL president.
He said he was confident that any motion to sack Ndebele would be resisted by a majority of the clubs who are eager to see Zimbabwe football turn a new leaf.
On the issue of elections, Phiri could not confirm or deny saying there was correspondence from Zifa that he was yet to get. The nomination process is said to have been fraught with irregularities with proper procedures having not been followed. Another dilemma for those pushing for elections is that the co-option of the two members, Rosen and Zulu, was ratified by the PSL assembly.
“There is communication said to be from Zifa which is on the way, I cannot say much at the moment,” said Phiri.
Black Mambas are believed to be after the vice-president’s and treasurer’s posts, with Dynamos’ Kenny Mubaiwa and Bosso’s Andrew Tapela said to be in the race for the post to deputise Phiri.
Some clubs said it was mischief for members to show such disregard for the constitution especially at a time when all seemed moving smoothly for the PSL.
Phiri said tomorrow’s annual general meeting would be just like any other.
“We will have the chairman’s report, treasurer’s, any other business of which due notice has been given. I cannot disclose what clubs forwarded but I do not see anything different from the usual agm business,” said Phiri.
While embattled Zifa continue to struggle to convince sponsors because of the board’s and assembly’s failure to clean the image of the game, the PSL is having good times with BancABC, Mbada Diamonds Holdings and NetOne among the top sponsors.
Online Reporter