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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
PREMIER Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele has distanced himself from a Facebook campaign linking him to the vacant Zifa presidency.
Fronted by one Hendrix Njabulo Ndlovu, the page, “Kennedy Ndebele for Zifa President”, was created on October 8 and had 80 followers by yesterday.
The first post on the page reads: “He (Ndebele) is a man of integrity who has steered PSL very well. He deserves the chance to lead the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).”
In another post, Ndlovu said time had come to let “a seasoned administrator run Zifa instead of power hungry individuals who have killed Zimbabwean soccer”.
His post was supported by Shepherd Nkomo, who said Ndebele might bring hope to the sinking Zifa ship.
Ndebele cut his teeth in football administration as Highlanders’ secretary-general before rising to the powerful chairman’s post at Bosso and eventually the PSL.
He, however, remained non-committal yesterday saying he does not comment on social media network posts.
“I don’t comment on social media, but still I have no idea about the page you are talking about,” said Ndebele.
When pressed to comment on his position on the Zifa presidency post, Ndebele, who lost to incumbent Highlanders’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede in the Zifa elections that ushered in Cuthbert Dube’s leadership in 2010, would neither deny nor confirm that he was considering having another shot.
“I’ve no comment on that,” he said.
Zifa will go to the polls on December 5 to choose a new president, vice-president and four board members after the mandate of the previous board led by Dube was revoked by councillors at an extraordinary general meeting held in Harare on October 3.
The other board members that were ejected together with Dube are vice-president Omega Sibanda, Miriam Sibanda and Ben Gwarada, who were by then under suspension, John Phiri, Fungai Chihuri, Tawengwa Hara and Twine Phiri.
A number of names have been touted as possible candidates for the most powerful post in domestic football, and these include former FC Platinum boss Nathan Shoko, former Zifa president Trevor Carelse-Juul, Harare businessman Farai Jere, former PSL boss Twine Phiri and flamboyant businessman Philip Chiyangwa.
In another development, impeccable sources within women’s football have revealed that some powerful figures are pushing for elections to choose new board members, with November 15 being set as the tentative date.
The sources said it was not clear why elections were being called before the term of the board led by Miriam Sibanda, who was clandestinely suspended and is yet to be brought before a disciplinary committee, ends in 2018.
“There is jostling for posts now, especially that the Mighty Warriors have qualified for the Olympics. For all we know, Miriam was suspended and until her case has been brought before the disciplinary committee, no one can claim the substantive presidency. Elizabeth Langa, who is clearly unpopular, was just acting,” said the source.
Online Reporter