Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

ZIFA Southern Region clubs decided against renewing the mandate of three executive committee members, chairman Andrew Tapela, his deputy Gaylord Madhunguza as well as secretary Mehluli Thebe which ended in October.

The majority of the clubs, 12 out of the 17 attended Monday evening’s meeting at the Zifa Southern Region offices in Bulawayo and agreed to boot out Tapela, Madhunguza and Thebe.

Board member finance Tizirayi Luphahla survived the axe.

An unmoved Tapela yesterday said he can only comment after getting a letter from the clubs.

“I can only comment after receiving the letter that my mandate has been revoked because as of now I am only hearing it from the grapevine and social media,’’ Tapela stated. 

Before passing a vote of no confidence on the trio, the clubs co-opted seasoned administrator Lloyd Munhanga of Zimbabwe Saints and Mosi Rovers’ representative Tafadzwa Mutowa into the board. Munhanga and Mutowa were filling the gaps left by Bryton Malandule who was elevated to the Zifa national executive before he was ousted, as well as Fiso Siziba who assumed the vice-chairmanship role at Highlanders.

The clubs acknowledged Luphahla’s efforts to drive the region and felt that maybe assuming the finance portfolio previously held by Malandule and the competitions role could have overwhelmed him as he tried to balance his duties.

The clubs were unanimous in retaining Luphahla.

“The outcome of the meeting was that only Luphahla and the two other members who were co-opted before members decided not to renew the mandate of other board remain. The three (Luphahla, Munhanga and Mutowa) will then sit and decide who to co-opt into their executive so that they start working.

“Members felt that the board let them down by failing to call for an AGM, they questioned why the executive had not affiliated with the national board yet the clubs had paid their affiliation fees either in full or partly.

“Also, clubs asked whose mandate was the Tapela-led executive serving as they failed to attend two national meetings where issues affecting football were discussed. The view of the clubs was that the executive had some personal issues as they clearly stated that they don’t recognise the Zifa national executive yet they still used referees provided by the national association. 

“So, now the clubs are going to notify Zifa national about the developments and plead for the region to be given time to affiliate before next month’s Zifa general meeting,” said Khumbulani Mbano, on behalf of the clubs.

The clubs said relations with the executive got strained when Siziba left for Highlanders where he is the vice-chairman.

“No information came to clubs after Siziba left. He was the centre who made sure that information reached clubs even when there were no general meetings. His departure left a big void in the region,” Siphambaniso Dube of Ajax noted.

Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they will comment once they have received communication from the region. — @ZililoR.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

ZIFA Southern Region clubs decided against renewing the mandate of three executive committee members, chairman Andrew Tapela, his deputy Gaylord Madhunguza as well as secretary Mehluli Thebe which ended in October.

The majority of the clubs, 12 out of the 17 attended Monday evening’s meeting at the Zifa Southern Region offices in Bulawayo and agreed to boot out Tapela, Madhunguza and Thebe.

Board member finance Tizirayi Luphahla survived the axe.

An unmoved Tapela yesterday said he can only comment after getting a letter from the clubs.

“I can only comment after receiving the letter that my mandate has been revoked because as of now I am only hearing it from the grapevine and social media,’’ Tapela stated. 

Before passing a vote of no confidence on the trio, the clubs co-opted seasoned administrator Lloyd Munhanga of Zimbabwe Saints and Mosi Rovers’ representative Tafadzwa Mutowa into the board. Munhanga and Mutowa were filling the gaps left by Bryton Malandule who was elevated to the Zifa national executive before he was ousted, as well as Fiso Siziba who assumed the vice-chairmanship role at Highlanders.

The clubs acknowledged Luphahla’s efforts to drive the region and felt that maybe assuming the finance portfolio previously held by Malandule and the competitions role could have overwhelmed him as he tried to balance his duties.

The clubs were unanimous in retaining Luphahla.

“The outcome of the meeting was that only Luphahla and the two other members who were co-opted before members decided not to renew the mandate of other board remain. The three (Luphahla, Munhanga and Mutowa) will then sit and decide who to co-opt into their executive so that they start working.

“Members felt that the board let them down by failing to call for an AGM, they questioned why the executive had not affiliated with the national board yet the clubs had paid their affiliation fees either in full or partly.

“Also, clubs asked whose mandate was the Tapela-led executive serving as they failed to attend two national meetings where issues affecting football were discussed. The view of the clubs was that the executive had some personal issues as they clearly stated that they don’t recognise the Zifa national executive yet they still used referees provided by the national association. 

“So, now the clubs are going to notify Zifa national about the developments and plead for the region to be given time to affiliate before next month’s Zifa general meeting,” said Khumbulani Mbano, on behalf of the clubs.

The clubs said relations with the executive got strained when Siziba left for Highlanders where he is the vice-chairman.

“No information came to clubs after Siziba left. He was the centre who made sure that information reached clubs even when there were no general meetings. His departure left a big void in the region,” Siphambaniso Dube of Ajax noted.

Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they will comment once they have received communication from the region. — @ZililoR.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

ZIFA Southern Region clubs decided against renewing the mandate of three executive committee members, chairman Andrew Tapela, his deputy Gaylord Madhunguza as well as secretary Mehluli Thebe which ended in October.

The majority of the clubs, 12 out of the 17 attended Monday evening’s meeting at the Zifa Southern Region offices in Bulawayo and agreed to boot out Tapela, Madhunguza and Thebe.

Board member finance Tizirayi Luphahla survived the axe.

An unmoved Tapela yesterday said he can only comment after getting a letter from the clubs.

“I can only comment after receiving the letter that my mandate has been revoked because as of now I am only hearing it from the grapevine and social media,’’ Tapela stated. 

Before passing a vote of no confidence on the trio, the clubs co-opted seasoned administrator Lloyd Munhanga of Zimbabwe Saints and Mosi Rovers’ representative Tafadzwa Mutowa into the board. Munhanga and Mutowa were filling the gaps left by Bryton Malandule who was elevated to the Zifa national executive before he was ousted, as well as Fiso Siziba who assumed the vice-chairmanship role at Highlanders.

The clubs acknowledged Luphahla’s efforts to drive the region and felt that maybe assuming the finance portfolio previously held by Malandule and the competitions role could have overwhelmed him as he tried to balance his duties.

The clubs were unanimous in retaining Luphahla.

“The outcome of the meeting was that only Luphahla and the two other members who were co-opted before members decided not to renew the mandate of other board remain. The three (Luphahla, Munhanga and Mutowa) will then sit and decide who to co-opt into their executive so that they start working.

“Members felt that the board let them down by failing to call for an AGM, they questioned why the executive had not affiliated with the national board yet the clubs had paid their affiliation fees either in full or partly.

“Also, clubs asked whose mandate was the Tapela-led executive serving as they failed to attend two national meetings where issues affecting football were discussed. The view of the clubs was that the executive had some personal issues as they clearly stated that they don’t recognise the Zifa national executive yet they still used referees provided by the national association. 

“So, now the clubs are going to notify Zifa national about the developments and plead for the region to be given time to affiliate before next month’s Zifa general meeting,” said Khumbulani Mbano, on behalf of the clubs.

The clubs said relations with the executive got strained when Siziba left for Highlanders where he is the vice-chairman.

“No information came to clubs after Siziba left. He was the centre who made sure that information reached clubs even when there were no general meetings. His departure left a big void in the region,” Siphambaniso Dube of Ajax noted.

Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they will comment once they have received communication from the region. — @ZililoR.