Zifa makes appointments

Langton Nyakwenda
The maiden Zifa board indaba, expected to chart the way forward for the national sport, went ahead as scheduled in the capital yesterday and, as anticipated, ran for hours well into the night. Although the final resolutions were not clear at the time of going to press, what was sealed at yesterday’s meeting was the allocation of portfolios for the newly-elected board members while new standing committees were also installed.

The board, which was elected into office on March 29, also adopted a hand-over take-over report from the outgoing board which was presented by former vice-president Ndumiso Gumede, who is now the association’s honorary life member. One of the new faces in the new set-up, Ben Gwarada, was tasked with the finance portfolio whose books are in the red as Zifa currently sits on a ballooning debt in excess of $5 million. A new portfolio, the corporate affairs and special projects arm, was created and will be overseen by former Chicken Inn secretary Tawengwa Hara. Former Warriors skipper John Phiri retained his board member (development) post while former Eastern Region boss Fungai Chihuri is now board member (competitions).

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela confirmed that newly-elected women soccer boss Miriam Sibanda was absent as she is leading the Mighty Warriors delegation in South Africa while Gwarada also sent his apologies as he is attending to some business in the same country.