Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEWLY-elected Premier Soccer League chairman, Isaiah Mupfurutsa, has saluted ailing Harare giants Dynamos for introducing him to the sport’s top-flight administration.
Mupfurutsa, who is now the Simba Bhora chairman, edged Masimba Chihowa of Manica Diamonds 10-8 in the second, round run-off of a tightly-contested poll at a Harare hotel yesterday.
In the opening round. Mupfurutsa had polled eight votes in the first round, enjoying support from Simba Bhora, Scottland, Yadah Stars, Herentals, Highlanders, Kwekwe United, TelOne and ZPC Kariba.
Chihowa hasd initially garnered five votes from Manica Diamonds, GreenFuel, Bikita Minerals, Triangle United and CAPS United while the trio of Ngezi Platinum Stars, MWOS and Dynamos voted for Ngezi’s Leonard Musariri and while FC Platinum boss Dumisani Sisale had Chicken Inn and his own club backing him.
In the second round it was down to Mupfurutsa and Chihowa, with the former edging the Gem Boys chairman.
Highlanders’ Kenneth Mhlope was unopposed for the vice-chairman’s post.
Mupfurutsa’s first taste of PSL administration was back in 2018 when he was appointed Dynamos chairman, replacing Keni Mubaiwa, who had led the Harare giants to four consecutive league titles between 2011 and 2014.
He then moved to Simba Bhora in 2022 and led the Shamva-based side to a first championship title in 2024, in only their second season in the elite league.
Yesterday he moved a step higher when he was elected Farai Jere’s successor at the PSL.
“I came into the PSL in 2018, and I would like to thank Dynamos, particularly Bernard Marriot (DeMbare board chairman), who is the one who brought me into the PSL,” said Mupfurutsa.
“I would like also to thank Simba Bhora, particularly the owner, Simba Ndoro, for keeping me in the PSL when I left Dynamos.
“Everyone is important. And these governors, they only gave me a role to be like the point person, but we’ll be working together.
“I’m not going to be carrying my individual vision,” said Mupfurutsa.
The Harare banker enjoyed most support from mostly the teams from the capital including debutant moneybags Scottland.
Mupfurutsa thinks now is the time to deliver on what he promised during the campaign period.
“The contestants actually gave a strong fight, particularly governor Chihowa and I think having such a tough election is very healthy,” said Mupfurutsa.
“It also gives legitimacy to the winners.
“So I can say the governors have spoken. They’ve given their trust to me, which is also a big load or a heavy load on me because I carried the expectations of all the stakeholders, including these governors who have voted for me.
“And there’s a lot now that we need to do going forward.
“We have shared our manifestos and what is now left is for us to actually deliver on what we promised.
“We know already what people want.
“We know what the expectations of the stakeholders are. There’s nothing new that we are going to be looking at, but we are simply going to be implementing what we promised, implementing what would deliver the expectations of the stakeholders.”
He will be at the helm for the next four years and will also sit on the ZIFA executive committee by virtue of his PSL position.
Mupfurutsa also called for unity of purpose among the PSL governors.
“We need the quiet in PSL, not in terms of inactivity, but in terms of peace, unity, harmony, working together.
“These governors who were contesting are from the same house, from the same family.
“No one is thrown out because they’ve lost an election. They remain governors, and they are part of the board of governors, which means that they still have a lot of roles to play and everyone shall be given a role to play.
“So, this is what I want to say, and we know exactly what we need to do.
“We know the PSL that we want, and that PSL is the one that we are going to deliver.
“I’m not starting afresh, but we are just carrying on with the work that we’ve been doing, where we need to have improvement, some innovation, and also in some areas, if there’s a need for innovation, we’ll do that.
“But I tell you, over the years, I’ve learned a lot.
“The vision that I’m going to be carrying is for the collective group. And remember, we are guided by the statutes. We need good governance,” he said.
Some of the issues in his in-tray as he starts the journey include sourcing for more sponsorship for the league which only has Delta Beverages as the corporate partner.
