Daggers drawn: Plot to unseat Mandaza ahead of poll

Raymond Jaravaza . .
A PLOT to unseat Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza has been uncovered after a a�?candidatea�? courted to contest against the veteran administrator in the 2018 regional league elections blew the lid on the behind the scenes shenanigans that are already playing out before the ballot is cast next year.

Mandaza and his executivea��s mandate to run the Zifa Southern Region league ends next year but it appears opponents of the administrator have been working on a strategy to boot him out of office by courting potential candidates to contest in the elections.

The plot involves, among other strategies, a move to convince Kenneth Mhlophe a�� a long time Zifa Southern Region league sponsor a�� to throw his name in the hat for the 2018 elections and pit him against Mandaza.

Mhlophe, through his company Nokel Security, sponsors the leaguea��s Top Goal Scorer of the Month award, the Player of the Year award as well as the overall seasona��s top Goal Scorer award.

The move, however, suffered a stillbirth after the respected businessman snubbed efforts to convince him to run against Mandaza.

Last week Mhlophe was reportedly approached by a local football administrator who claimed to have been sent by a group of high ranking football administrators to court the businessman into considering a role in the Zifa Southern Region league executive.

a�?It is true that someone (name withheld) came to me and claimed to have been sent by top football officials to ask me to contest in the 2018 elections either against Mandaza or Francis Ntuta but I made it clear that I have absolutely no interest in contesting for any provincial or regional football post,a�? Mhlophe told B-Metro Sport.

Ntuta is the acting chairman of the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province league whose elections for a substantive boss are also scheduled for next year.

a�?Ia��m happy with my role as the sponsor of the Zifa Southern Region league. My heart has always been with Highlanders Football Club where I also assist the club from time to time when called upon,a�? added Mhlophe.

Mandaza had no kind words for those plotting to boot him out of office calling the move a�?cheap politicsa��.

a�?While we are working hard to improve football in the region by trying to lure new sponsors into the game others are busy wasting their time with cheap politics. I still have a mandate to run the league until 2018 and I intend doing just that.

a�?Mhlophe called a meeting where he explained to Ntuta and me that he had no intentions of running for the provincial or regional chairmanship.

a�?We enjoy a healthy relationship with Mhlophe as our sponsor and look forward to working with him again in the 2017 season,a�? said Mandaza.