Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
LONG-SERVING administrator and Northern Region Soccer League chairman Martin Kweza has penned an emotional farewell to the game, which he has diligently served for over two decades.
Kweza who has risen through the ranks and transformed into an influential figure in domestic football revealed that he would be leaving the game at the end of the 2025 NRSL season.
He also carried with the work whose platform had been laid by his close friend and predecessor, the late Willard Manyengavana and turned the NRSL into an enviable region whose Division One championship battles have been a tale of thrills and spills in the last six years.
His surprise decision means the Harare business executive will not be part of the cast that will contest the region’s elections in December.
ZIFA have opened nominations for all the affiliate members in line with a constitutional requirement in which all councillors, last elected in December 2018 and whose terms expired well before FIFA appointed Lincoln Mutasa’s Normalisation Committee to run the affairs of the association in July 2023.
Kweza had earlier this year taken a crack at the ZIFA presidency before withdrawing his candidature, hours before the watershed polls, which later ushered in Nqobile Magwizi’s executive committee on January 25.
In announcing his retirement from football, Kweza said he would now pursue other interests away from the sport that has been a huge part of his life for over 20 years.
“To the Northern Region football family and all valued stakeholders,
“I wish to take this opportunity to officially announce that the 2025 season will be my final term as Chairman of the Northern Region Soccer League,’’ wrote Kweza.
“I have made the decision to step away from football, for now, to pursue other personal and professional interests, and to allow new leadership the opportunity to build upon the foundation we have laid.
“It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve at the helm of this distinguished league.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust, support, and collaboration I have received throughout my tenure’’.
Kweza, his close ally and NRSL deputy Sweeney Mushonga and their board, which also includes Stanslous Nyachowe, Hastings Makunda and John Remba, have also been credited with introducing some exciting initiatives that spiced the NRSL and helped turn into a very competitive league whose title races captured attention even beyond the country’s borders.
They introduced a Super 8 knock-out tournament that was bankrolled by computer support and services and company Axis Solutions.
“Together with my board, we have worked tirelessly to uphold the values of integrity, development, and unity within our beautiful game.
“I am confident that the legacy we leave behind will serve as a strong platform for the next leadership to introduce fresh ideas and continue driving our league to even greater heights.
“To the entire Northern Region football family – thank you. Your passion, resilience, and commitment have been the heartbeat of our progress.
“May you continue to grow, thrive, and elevate the beautiful game,’’ added Kweza.
In August, Kweza led a milestone move by the NRSL during which they undertook to clean the image of the domestic game by fighting corruption and match-manipulation in the sport through directing their member clubs to undertake a pledge to uphold integrity.
The NRSL leadership, whose own Division One League was last rocked by accusations of biased match officiating and a few abandoned games, took the bold move to address the corruption scourge that has been threatening to eat away the fabric of the country’s biggest sport.
Kweza and his management wasted no time in dispatching former FIFA referee Brighton Mudzamiri to run a series of workshops, explaining to the clubs how the league wanted to go about the pledge to uphold integrity.
“As the governing body of the Northern Region Soccer League, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and fair play in our competitions,’’ Kweza said.
“To reinforce this commitment, we are introducing a Pledge against match-fixing, which we invite all our member clubs, players, and officials to sign.
“By signing this pledge, individuals and clubs demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of Fair Play, sportsmanship, and the highest standards of integrity in our football.
“We believe that this pledge will help to foster a culture of honesty and transparency in our competitions, and we are confident that it will contribute to the continued growth and success of our league,’’ said Kweza in a circular sent to all NRSL members.
The NRSL often praised by such coaches like Nesbert Saruchera, Bigboy Mawiwi, Arthur Tutani and Paul Chimalizeni, have over the last four years, underscored their competitive edge, winning three out of the four Champion of Champions tournament pitting all the country’s regional kings.
