adminSikhumbuzo Moyo in Harare
IS the Zimbabwean soccer community turning its back on Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and the national association?
That is the question that came up after football affiliates shunned a Zifa organised tour of the Mount Hampden-based Zifa Village yesterday.
The tour was instead thronged by cheerleaders, the Friends of Warriors who were led by their chairperson Lynne Green. The tour was supposed to involve provincial football representatives from the country’s 10 provinces, regional representatives, the 16 Premiership clubs, Nash and Naph representatives but that was not to be as there were no representatives from the elite clubs, and some regions.
“I would not want to believe that the invited affiliates are shunning Zifa projects and president Dube like you are saying. It’s a fact that its midweek and most people probably could not find time to come here and another issue is that the heavens opened up, scaring some people in the process,” said the outgoing Zifa vice president Ndumiso Gumede after the tour.
He said most Harare-based administrators and affiliates have been to the Zifa Village before.
He denied that that the tour was a campaign gimmick by some Zifa officials, who are set to seek re-election in the forthcoming plebiscite next month.
“You can’t sit back and fear the unknown, if you have a programme to do, you go ahead. There is no better time to do this as a review than now and generally those that are here are all positive about what they have seen,” said the veteran administrator.
The Zifa president Cuthbert Dube has been in the limelight of late for all the wrong reasons following the disclosure of his shocking salary and benefits at the Public Service Medical Aid Society that have been described in some circles as obscene.
He is alleged to have grossed $6,4 million in salaries and benefits at PSMAS last year.
Meanwhile, the official launch of the fourth edition of the Bob90 Super Cup which was supposed to be held at a Harare hotel last night was postponed at the last minute but the organisers were quick to assure the nation that the semi-final tie between Highlanders and Harare City would go ahead at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. Winners of the Barbourfields battle will then square off against reigning Castle Lager Premiership champions and holders of the Bob90 Cup Dynamos in Harare on February 23.
“The launch is off but all other arrangements are still in place,” said spokesperson of the organising committee and veteran broadcaster Charles Mabika last night.
He did not give reasons regarding the postponement of the launch.
Online Reporter