Three candidates vie for CSL chair

Midlands Correspondent
THREE candidates filed their nomination papers to contest the Zifa Central Soccer League (CSL) chairmanship at the close of nomination on Monday.

Inaugural CSL chairman Patrick Hokonya, CSL board member for administration Stanley Chapeta and Whawha chairperson Musa Ntonga submitted their nominations and now await confirmation of their participation in the March 6 polls from the Zifa Electoral Committee, which meets on Saturday to do the verification process.

Hokonya, who filed his nomination at the regional offices in Gweru, was confident that he will win, saying his track record speaks for itself.

“I am back in football after calls from stakeholders that I return and rescue the game. My vision for this region ended when I left in 2012 and during that short space of time, I had achieved a lot,” said Hokonya.

“It was during this period that the region managed to secure sponsorship and it was also during this time that we managed to acquire offices. We were in the processes of securing big sponsorship packages from the corporate world, but this died a natural death as soon as I left.”

An equally upbeat Chapeta, who launched his manifesto amid pomp and fanfare at the weekend, said he had already secured sponsorship for the region.

“You saw how the clubs responded to my manifesto and what is left is for me to deliver. The sponsorship is already there and what is left is to win the elections and deliver to the clubs,” Chapeta said.

Ntonga, who was the only woman on the PSL board of governors in 2015, said she had a vision for the region based on competitiveness, which will in turn result in the league attracting sponsorship.

“There is a need to put strong systems in place in as far as corporate governance is concerned and secondly we need a leaner league which is competitive, and once we put our house in order, naturally sponsors will come on board,” said Ntonga.

The chairmanship fell vacant following the election of Felton Kamambo into the Zifa board in December 2015.