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ELECTIONS for the Zifa regional chairman’s post will be held in two of the four regions on February 22 after the Northern Region’s Willard Manyengavana and Felton Kamambo (Central) sailed through unopposed at the close of the nomination process.
In the Southern Region, Mandla Moyo will battle it out with Musa Mandaza. Stanley Mago and Piraishe Mabhena are the two candidates who forwarded their names for the Eastern Region’s hot seat in elections expected to bring about more positive change nationally.
Over the last decade the soccer family has been torn apart by factionalism. It has been at the heart of divisions in the game as those who win have lacked the support of those that they would have beaten.
Manyengavana, a former PSL and Caps United official, has been in the Northern Region executive as vice-chairman and acting head following the suspension of Solomon Mugavazi for his alleged involvement in Asiagate.
He will be deputised by Martin Kweza who is unopposed.
Surprisingly, the four board members were also unopposed. This could also give a hint as to who the region might back in the forthcoming Zifa board elections as in recent years provinces and their regional committees have backed the same horse.
The four board members who have been assured of positions because there were no takers are Stanslous Nyachowe, Sweeney Mushonga, Robert Mamvura and John Staurt Remba.
In the Central Region, there was also unanimity as Felton Kamambo is unopposed for the chairman’s post with his vice-chairman set to be Patrick Hill who has been in the structures for close to a decade now. He too did not have a challenger as did board members Thomas Marambanyika, James Marima, Charlton Moyo and Stanley Chapeta.
Cyril Gracious Muwewa will be the Eastern Region’s vice-chairman with three board members Wisdom Simba, Davison Muchena and Farai Rutsvara assured of three of the four slots.
There were no takers for the fourth post and the available options to fill it could be co-option or a by-election at a later date.
With Mandaza and Moyo in the running to take charge of Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces and their Division One teams, this could be a sure sign of the state of the game in the country – faction-ridden.
All the posts are going to be contested in the Southern Region with talk of powerful figures in Bulawayo and Harare behind the different candidates.
Tawanda Ruzive, a tested administrator in the region having won several hats in the just ended Morgan Dube term, has shifted from board finance and acting secretary-general to contest the vice-chairmanship. He comes up against ZPC Hwange’s Gaylord Madhunguza.
There are six candidates eager to fill the four slots for board members.
These are Zimbabwe Saints’ Jabulani Chinyangarara, New West City’s Tumediso “Drogba” Ndlovu, Blackboots’ Sydney Madzvimbo and Hwange Juniors’ Khumbulani Mbano.
Retired referee and finance man Bryton Malandule is in the race too as is Patrick Malunga, a former Gwanda Ramblers defender.
It is hoped that after these elections a majority of the people will opt to end the feuding that has blighted the local game since 2003.
Northern Region: Willard Manyengavana (chairman), vice-chairman Martin Kweza, board members Stanslous Nyachowe, Sweeney Mushonga, Robert Mamvura and John Remba.
Central Region: Felton Kamambo (chairman), Patrick Hill (vice-chairman), Thomas Marambanyika, James Marima, Charlton Moyo, Stanley Chapeta (board members)
Eastern Region: Stanley Mago, Piraishe Mabhena (chairman), Cyril Mukwewa (vice-chairman), Wisdom Simba, Davison Muchena, Farai Rutsvara (board members)
Southern Region: Mandlenkosi Moyo, Musa Mandaza (chairman), Tawanda Ruzive, Gaylord Madhunguza (vice-chairman), Jabulani Chinyangarara, Tumediso Ndlovu, Sydney Madzvimbo, Bryton Malandule, Patrick Malunga, Khumbulani Malunga, Patrick Malunga, Khumbulani Mbano (board members).
Online Reporter