adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
THE zifa Electoral College meet in Harare today to deliberate on the candidates bidding to contest for posts on the zifa board. Already four candidates have thrown their names into the hat for the top post with incumbent Cuthbert Dube, former chairman Trevor Carelse-Juul, Harare City’s Leslie Gwindi and Nigel Munyati showing interest.
But the four could only get their campaign into full throttle later in the day once their names have been vetted by the Electoral College.
zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela, yesterday said names of the successful candidates will be announced soon after the vetting.
“The Electoral College will look at the papers that had been filed by the prospective candidates and see if they meet the requirements.
“So the papers should meet the set standards and the candidates should also be fit to stand for office. The discussions will centre on who is eligible and who is ineligible to run for office,” said Gwesela.
Elections for the zifa board positions will be held next weekend at zifa Village, if the High Court rules on Monday in favour of the polls to go ahead as scheduled, with the winners getting into office for the next four years.
While most of the interest has been on the top post, there are also candidates who are angling for other posts on the board.
“Vetting will be done for those who have submitted nominations for the president, the vice-president and the board members.
“Under the new constitution, there is only one vice-president and the board members will then assign each other to portfolios once they have been successfully elected,” said Gwesela.
Bulawayo football administrator Omega Sibanda and former Highlanders chairman Elkanah Dube, will lock horns in the battle for the vice-presidency.
Incumbent Ndumiso Gumede, is not seeking re-election and is said to be eyeing a position within the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Seasoned administrator Francis Zimunya, former Kambuzuma United chairman and now ZPC Kariba official Saidi Sangula, former Zimbabwe Women’s Football boss Susan Chibizhe and John Phiri are also eyeing seats on the board.
Already, Twine Phiri from the Premier Soccer League, Miriam Sibanda from women’s football, Willard Manyengavana, Musa Mandaza, Piraishe Mabhena and Felton Kamambo, who are coming from the regions, are part of the incoming board.
Meanwhile, Carelse-Juul, who hosted a breakfast meeting at Reps Theatre last week, is planning to hold another press conference this afternoon in the capital.
Carelse-Juul is enjoying massive support in the Southern Region and, having been one of the forces behind the Dream Team, the international businessman says he now wants to create the Reality Team.
He has also secured the support of the majority of the Premiership clubs and wants to win the backing of the Central and Northern Regions with indications last night showing that he could get the Northern Region vote.
Carelse-Juul, who is now a devoted Christian, says he is fulfilling a prophesy to come back and help Zimbabwe football and feels the time is ripe for him to make a mark in the game.
“I am an international businessman now and I interact with state presidents in the projects that I carry out around the world and I feel that I can help football in my country, with all the connections I have established to take a giant leap forward,” said Carelse-Juul.
“We want to make our football a better sporting discipline, we want to see development in the game, we want to see the junior development structures working and we want to see our national teams becoming successful again.
“We created the Dream Team and gave the country a national team that made everyone proud but I want to do even more and create the Reality Team that can qualify for major tournaments and we should tell ourselves that we are good enough to play at the World Cup.
“The last time the Dream Team came within a game to qualify for the World Cup and we want to clear that hurdle because that is where we belong as a nation.”
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