New referees committee appointed

Sports Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Football Association vice-president Omega Sibanda has stepped down as Zimbabwe Referees Committee chairman and has been replaced by Zifa board member, John Phiri.The changes were made during the association’s board meeting yesterday morning, impeccable sources have revealed.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela confirmed the association’s standing committees were ratified at the meeting where it was agreed members of the presidium, which is made up of the president and vice-president should not be given posts in committees but should focus on their oversight role.

While Gwesela refused to divulge the names of the people appointed to the referees committee, impeccable sources said Phiri was the new chair and is deputised by former Fifa panel referee Wilfred Mukuna while Sabelo Maphosa retained her post as chief instructor.

Ndaba Ncube replaces Gladmore Muzambi as the chief commissioner while Ernest Banda comes in as chief fitness instructor taking over from Joseph Mususa.

Brighton Mudzamiri was appointed national co-ordinator and Edson Nkau is in charge of appointments.

A new board announced after this year’s elections by Gwesela also had Denis Tshuma, the chairman of Zifa Matabeleland North as national co-ordinator and former Fifa and Zifa panel referee Alfred Zindove was the secretary-general.

Sources revealed Fifa Southern and Eastern Region development officer Ashford Mamelodi urged the presidium not to be involved in any sub-committees with the Zifa board concurring.

“When Mamelodi met the board during an induction course, he was of the opinion that the presidium should not take any other roles saying it was in the best interest of running the sport hence changes had to be made. As you are aware, former Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede had been heading the referees committee before the elections this year,” said the source.

Gwesela said they could not reveal the names that had been ratified in the standing committees as they are yet to inform them of the appointments.

The other Zifa standing committees are Football Medicine, Internal Audit, Futsal and Beach Soccer headed by Twine Phiri, Finance Committee led by Bernard Gwarada and Women’s Football guided by Miriam Sibanda.