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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Highlanders secretary, Andrew Tapela feels he is ready to make a change in the Zifa Southern Region after his nomination to challenge for the chairmanship sailed through for election pencilled in for 14 October.
Tapela said he was motivated to throw his name in the hat as he feels he can utilise his past experience in the sport to make a significant difference in the region. He said several clubs, which he declined to name, approached him requesting he throw his name into the hat for the chairman’s post that has been held by Musa Mandaza. Tapela said besides being approached by clubs he believes taking part in the elections is part of his journey and growing in the sport.
“Once a pirate always a pirate. I love football. I am passionate about the sport and admittedly being away from the game has been difficult. I saw an opportunity to return and after making considerations after being approached by clubs, I felt I should offer myself as an alternative. I appreciate the work the incumbent has done and I feel it’s time we take it to the next level,” he said.
“My previous experience will certainly come in handy, particularly the six years at Highlanders exposed me to a wide array of areas in the game including negotiating with corporate, handling contracts and disputes and general needs of clubs.”
He said after engaging clubs and doing research he came up with four strategic result areas that he came with which will drive his vision once elected into office.
The areas that will push Tapela’s vision are resource mobilisation, synergies and partnerships, capacity building, infrastructure development.
Tapela, who was once in the Zifa provincial structures, said he was gunning for a branded league with a full sponsorship package that will incentivise all teams to fight for a better position and not just for the championship, which comes with a ticket to the Premiership.
“We want teams to get monetary prizes irrespective of the position they finish. Having the sole prize for playing in Division One as the PSL ticket has to end, we will fight to get a total sponsorship package. With a branded league, I believe most administration expenses will be taken care of by the sponsor giving us room to reduce affiliation fees, which have become rather a heavy burden for teams with no rewards. I believe it is possible to get a sponsor and at Bosso I was involved in negotiating with a number of corporate entities and that experience will come in handy.”
The former Bosso secretary said he will also be looking at increasing cup competitions. The former Zifa Bulawayo Province chairman said it was critical to create linkages that will bring financial gain to clubs and his administration will seek twinning arrangements with leagues of a similar standing in neighbouring countries and locally engage Naph and Nash to fortify football coaching at schools. Tapela said he believes clubs can export players directly and increase their earnings and stop looking at PSL as the only destination for their products.
“We intend facilitating MOUs between local and foreign clubs paving the way for players to go on attachments with a view of being bought. Teams have the capacity to get better returns through selling their players abroad,” he said.
Tapela said during his tenure there would be widespread capacity building for both coaches and administrators alike including setting up a training fund to subsidise courses while at the same time roping in Naph and Nash to ensure the development agenda spreads to schools which are critical in talent development.
Former Chicken Inn, Bantu Rovers and Bulawayo City manager Tizirayi Luphahla, Mosi Rovers chairman Mwanda Mubita, former ZRP Bulawayo chairman Fiso Siziba and ZPC Hwange secretary Mehluli Thebe are all challenging the incumbents in the executive. Bryton Malandule and Tumediso Mokoena-Ndlovu are seeking re-election.
Online Reporter