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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
ELLIOT Manduna has pulled out of the Zifa Southern Region chairmanship race and believes somebody younger and more dynamic should take charge. In an interview on Monday, the former Zimbabwe Saints chairman said he had opted out of the race and was throwing his weight behind Mandla Moyo.
The Bulawayo businessman and farmer said he is considering running for national office as his experience drawn from decades of engagement in the sport could not be put to waste.
Manduna was set to fight it out with Moyo and veteran administrator Musa Mandaza for the chairman’s post in elections to be held in two weeks’ time in the city.
“After careful consideration and advice from people in the soccer family, I have withdrawn my candidature. I believe I have garnered enough experience with Mandaza for us to challenge for higher office.
“Moyo is young and we believe that is a perfect place for him to be groomed. He has lots of energy and with support from veteran administrators like us he would benefit the sport more,” said Manduna.
He could not elaborate which post at national level he would gun for. But he said it was the right time for him to seek higher office.
Moyo, popularly known as “Godlwayo”, has previously owned a club in Division One and his experience and knowledge of the topography of the region are a distinct advantage. With Sparrows Football Club he travelled around Bulawayo and Matabeleland North and has said incentivising the league and even playing ground to allow a team from Tsholotsho, Victoria Falls and Hwange would be his priorities.
Mandaza needs no introduction in the sport and spearheaded the formation of the fourth region — the Central Soccer League to ease expenditure from clubs.
Before Mandaza fought for that region, teams from Victoria Falls had to travel up to three times to Beitbridge, seven times to the Midlands and Bulawayo too.
The distances were up to 700km now at most they travel 440km making good savings to sustain their campaigns.
“I think when I look at myself and Mandaza we have been in the sport for close to Moyo’s age, why not let the younger generation take responsibility and rise from within.
“In a number of years we want his experience to be key to national development and if we shut out the younger generation from occupying key positions at the right time we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Manduna.
Online Reporter