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Senior Sports Editor
THE Zifa annual congress could turn out to be one of the most explosive in recent years. It’s been set for April 11 in the capital. Stung by a number of lawsuits and loss of property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and the country’s expulsion from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, the football law makers are expected to take the board to task.
This week the Premier Soccer League clubs spoke with one voice on the football crisis in the country. They demanded an extra-ordinary congress which, according to the Zifa constitution, has to be held within three months.
A good number of councillors except three believed to be from Matabeleland North, Midlands and Mashonaland East have petitioned the Zifa board for the extra-ordinary congress.
But with the Zifa annual general congress coming up on April 11, a councillor who refused to be named said the problems could be brought up for discussion at that meeting.
“Whether its items brought up for discussion where due notice has been given or not, there is no ways Cuthbert Dube can leave out the real problems of Zimbabwe football from his report. So on matters arising we will take the opportunity to push for his ouster with his board. According to the constitution the meeting can actually call for the dissolution of the Zifa Assembly or Council as well.
“It doesn’t make sense for us as councillors to call for a meeting which Zifa can fixture for June which is within the three months when we can act at the annual general meeting. We will act as councillors, the writing is on the wall, the nation wants action to save the game,” said the councillor.
The source said Dube will also be challenged to act on chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze. While members of the assembly can act on the Zifa president, their hands he said were tied as Mashingaidze’s case was labour-related and only Dube could act.
Under Mashingaidze and his last two boards, Zifa have slumped to the lowest levels with morale in the game of football at its lowest with the game crying out for a new lease of life.
Changes are not expected at secretariat level only but in the board too which is responsible for the day to day running of Zimbabwean football.
Hopes are high that government could plough in some money to clear Zifa debts before a new administration is put in place.
“Yes even if Fifa bans us, there is nothing to lose now. It’s the time to go to grassroots level development and come up with 16-year-olds who could be 20-21 years old when the ban is lifted after five years. We would be having a team that can stand its own for almost a decade in international football,” said the same source.
Dube and his right hand man Mashingaidze have been blamed for the rot in the game. Despite promising a lot when he came on board in 2010, the Zifa president has failed to deliver.
Mashingaidze has plunged Zimbabwe football from one problem to the other, most of them concealed from some of his principals.
Online Reporter