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“If I wanted to take part in the race for chairmanship and Ashel comes in as another candidate I would not think twice, but just pull out because I believe he can offer something better in that position. I hope he will get the necessary support”
VOICES calling for former Eastern Lions and Buffaloes club executive member, Ashel Mutungura to take a shot at the Zifa Eastern Region chairmanship are increasing with each passing week, with Former Zifa vice-president and retired Fifa panel referee, Kenny Marange and Buffaloes club executive member, Ticha Zikai being the latest to throw their weight behind the prominent Mutare lawyer.
Elections to choose a replacement for former Zifa Eastern Region chairman, Piraishe Mabhena will be held any time soon after Mabhena was elected into the Zifa board.
Accordingly, Mabhena relinquished his Zifa Eastern Region chairmanship post.
Zifa spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, said election dates would be announced soon after the electoral committee meeting.
The electoral committee will have a meeting soon and that is when we are likely to have the dates for the regional by elections. It will be soon, but unfortunately I cannot give exact dates at the moment,” said Gwesela in a telephone interview from Harare on Wednesday.
However, as the debate on possible candidates rages on, Mutare legal practitioner Mutungura has been widely touted as a befitting replacement for Mabhena.
Former Zifa vice-president and retired Fifa panel referee Kenny Marange, said Mutungura had the pedigree to lead the regional soccer governing body.
“I have dealt with Ashel before. I think it is not a secret that Ashel (Mutungura) has been with Eastern Lions from Division One up to Premiership. He has been part of the Buffaloes’ leadership and that means the guy has been around for quite some time.
“He must have learnt a lot about football administration during those years. Apart from that he is coming from a legal background and that also speaks volumes on his level of education. I have no doubt that he is equal to the task.
“If I wanted to take part in the race for chairmanship and Ashel comes in as another candidate I would not think twice, but just pull out because I believe he can offer something better in that position. I hope he will get the necessary support,” said Marange.
Buffaloes committee member and passionate Mutare football enthusiast, Ticha Zikai, said there was no need to think twice about Mutungura’s Zifa Eastern Region chairmanship candidature.
“Common sense dictates that it is high time we have a Mutare-based Zifa Eastern Region chairman. We are tired of individuals from the same place. After all, Mutare is central to bother provinces Mashonaland East and Masvingo therefore that means the chairman will be easily accessible to all teams in the Eastern Region Division One league.
“The sad thing is that we have had people using the Eastern Region as a highway to higher offices in Zifa yet they have done nothing for the flagship league. How can we go on with the same crop of leaders after all these years without sponsorship?
“I know that our greatest challenge is that we are not united. I just hope and pray that for once we will be united and chose a leader who will benefit not only us, but the entire region. We can only find that in Mutungura,” said Zikai.
Former Buffaloes secretary, Tendai Chitowa concurred with Zikai and said Manicaland deserved better treatment on football issues, but that would not come as long as the province does not have leaders at the highest level of the game.
“We have had numerous problems as a province in football and these problems were perpetuated by the fact we do not have leaders from Manicaland in some of these high offices in football administration.It is high time we have one of our own. I strongly support the idea to Mutungura as the next Zifa Eastern Region chairman and I hope fellow stakeholders also share the same opinion,” said the Mutare businessman.
Online Reporter