Dube roped in as Zifa ends Phiri PSL tenure

Sports Reporter
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has moved in to end Twine Phiri’s tenure as Premier Soccer League chairman replacing him with Highlanders boss Peter Dube, albeit in an acting capacity. Chiyangwa said Phiri’s revocation, along with the previous Zifa board, had not been effected as he had remained in his position without elections being held to confirm his status, adding that he was simple enforcing the rules by appointing Dube as the acting chairman.

“Dube should have started acting when the Zifa board’s mandate was revoked but because there was no one to implement the law then, Phiri remained in that position, which was an irregularity.

As the Zifa president, I’m now moving in to ensure everything is in line with football statutes,” said Chiyangwa.
The announcement could signal the end of Phiri’s tenure as PSL chairman as Chiyangwa said the league should follow their constitution in electing their next representative, who should be either a chairman or president of a club.

“The PSL constitution states that only a chairman and president can represent it on the PSL board of governors so we do not expect them to flout their charter,” he said.
Chiyangwa said he would not tolerate any change to the Caps United structure in the coming weeks in order to accommodate Phiri and ensure his election as PSL chairman.
He vowed to come down hard on the club if it tampers with its structure. Zifa announced last week that PSL elections should be held on 13 February.

The country’s football governing body met PSL governors, including Phiri, on Friday in Harare but the decision to appoint Dube in an acting capacity was only made by Chiyangwa, who concurred with his board yesterday afternoon.

The Zifa president said Phiri was invited in his individual capacity and not as PSL chairman.
Sources who attended the meeting said it was agreed that Phiri’s status would be determined by a confirmation letter coming from Caps United.

Phiri ceded control at Caps United to Farai Jere who acquired a 60 percent stake at the club last year although the former retained a 20 percent shareholding. The move saw Jere assuming the Caps United presidency while Lewis Uriri was appointed chairman.