Zifa defer PSL meeting

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA has postponed a potentially explosive meeting with its biggest affiliate the Premier Soccer League from today to Friday.

The agenda of the meeting still remains a mystery, but sources close to the two organisations said the issue of the PSL representative on the Zifa board was top of the list.

“The meeting has been postponed to Friday at a Harare hotel,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela in a brief statement yesterday.

He was not in a position to reveal the agenda of the meeting.

Sources, however, said Twine Phiri’s PSL presidency, which Zifa has continued to disregard with reckless abandon, was the main reason the Phillip Chiyangwa-led Zifa executive had called the meeting.

“Zifa still considers the league as leaderless. They’re saying Phiri lost his mandate to lead the association when Caps United guru Farai Jere appointed Harare lawyer Lewis Uriri as their chairman and therefore a new leader must and should be chosen. What the league did in their ill-arranged meeting just before the Easycall Cup final last year was as good as imposing a leader on clubs. Constitutionally though, Highlanders’ chairman Peter Dube must assume the reins,” said a source privy to the boardroom talks.

Zifa has since called for PSL elections to be held on February 13 and it remains to be seen whether the league will adhere to the directive.

The directive was made during the Zifa executive committee meeting held on Friday last week as part of its six major resolutions.

Masvingo Province will also hold their elections on February 13, while the Zimbabwe Women’s Football League will hold their elections on February 20; the same day as the Central and Eastern Region leagues, while beach soccer will choose its leader on February 21.

Former Zimbabwe Referees Committee chairperson Samukeliso Silengane has reportedly declared her intention to run for the Women’s League presidency, and so has deposed former boss Miriam Sibanda, acting chairperson Elizabeth Langa and former boss Mavis Gumbo.