Dube withdraws from Zifa race

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA vice-presidential candidate Elkanah Dube has withdrawn from the race, leaving Omega Sibanda and former Dynamos treasurer Lincoln Mutasa to fight it out.

Dube, a former Highlanders FC secretary and vice-chairman, who is also a present member of the Bosso board, yesterday said he had decided to stand down from the race to avoid “future administrative challenges”.

In his withdrawal letter addressed to Zifa electoral committee chairman Justice Sello Nare dated yesterday, a copy of which Chronicle Sport has, Dube said he had realised that he doesn’t command much support from the Southern Region, which ideally should be the case as his home constituency.

“The incipient stages of my campaign have clearly revealed that as a candidate, I don’t command any backing from the Southern Region councillors in my constituency. Admittedly this would create administrative challenges for both myself and the councillors if I were to win in the elections,” wrote Dube, a respected educationist, who served as chief executive officer of the highly successful African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee.

Dube said he was now fully backing the candidature of presidential, vice-presidential and board candidates that have the support of the Southern Region.

“Consequently, I reckon it is prudent for me to withdraw from the race and lend my support to presidential, vice-presidential and board candidates that have the backing of the Southern Region councillors. This way, the rift between me and the Southern Region councillors is mended, paving way for a positive relationship for future purposes,” said Dube.

The Southern Region is on record backing property mogul Philip Chiyangwa for the Zifa presidency and Sibanda as his deputy.

Chiyangwa has to overcome the challenge of former Dynamos and Premier Soccer League secretary-general Leslie Gwindi and former footballer James Takavada.

South Africa-based businessman Trevor Carelse-Juul’s candidature will only be confirmed today after the electoral committee rejected his nomination papers, saying they did not have fingerprints and proof that he has been resident in Zimbabwe for the past five years as stipulated in Section 32 (4) of the Zifa constitution.