adminSenior Sports Reporter
OUT-GOING Zifa board member responsible for competitions, Benedict Moyo was yesterday still sweating over the $5,000 nomination fee for the March 29 elections whose nominations close today. Former Highlanders vice chairman who is the popular Bulawayo club board member, Elkanah Dube has picked up his nomination form for the vice presidency.
“The nomination closes tomorrow (today) at 4.30PM but unfortunately I cannot reveal the names of those who have picked up their forms. Names will be made public after the March 22 verification process,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
However, Dube, an educationist, confirmed picking up his nomination form but was also yet to pay the nomination fee.
“I can confirm that I have my form but Iam yet to submit it. It took me quite a while after a number of people asked me to stand especially after Ndumiso Gumede announced he is not seeking re-election,” said Dube who is the Hillside Teachers’ College principal.
Moyo who described the fees as “scary” said he does not remember being part of the board that approved the fees.
“I still feel I have some unfinished business in football but my biggest hindrance now is the $5,000 nomination fee. I honestly did not expect the figure to be that high,” said Moyo.
The figures were made public two months ago and have actually been reduced significantly.
Moyo might have missed meetings due to his trips with national teams. He said he never dreamt of such an astronomical figure.
“Technical people like us who have no financial muscle will be shut out. It’s no use to complain now because people will see it as a sympathy call but the truth is that I don’t remember being part of the meeting that approved the fees, so it’s good luck to those with money,” said Moyo.
Six positions will be up for grabs with the other two seats being taken by women’s football and the Premier Soccer League to bring to eight the number of Zifa board members.
The 58 delegates will vote for the Zifa president, his deputy, three board members and one board member regions.
Out-going president Cuthbert Dube has since confirmed that he is seeking re-election while the Zimbabwe Player Agents Association president Omega Sibanda was by yesterday reportedly still to decide on whether to stand or not.
“Sibanda is still weighing his options, there is still time remember,” said a close confidante to the Bulawayo based businessman.
Dube is likely to be challenged by fireband Harare City chairman Leslie Gwindi.
Gwindi was defeated by Dube in the 2010 elections.
Former Zifa chairman Trevor Carelse-Juul has ruled himself out of the running because of business commitments.
derick.khumalo