Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE 2022 football year was an eventful one for Zimbabwe, with the major highlight being the country’s suspension by Fifa for what the world football governing body termed “third party interference” in the affairs of the Zimbabwe Football Association.
Fifa barred Zimbabwe from participating at regional and international games in February, as they were not happy with the Sports and Recreation Commission’s (SRC) decision to suspend the Felton Kamambo-led Zifa executive.
Fifa only delivered the blow on Zimbabwe after the Afcon finals where the Warriors failed to go beyond the group stages. Zimbabwe started off their continental campaign with a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Senegal, followed by a 2-1 loss to Malawi and then capped off with a 2-1 triumph over Guinea.
On 3 January, 27 councillors called for an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) whose major highlight was the revocation of mandates for some of the board members who were suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission in November 2021. The Zifa executive committee had up to 3 April to convene the EGM, failure to which the councillors could arrange the gathering.
After 90 days, the councillors called for a meeting where the Zifa assembly unanimously voted to recall the association’s president, Kamambo, and two other board members Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule and they retained Farai Jere, Barbara Chikosi and Sugar Chagonda while reinstating Gift Banda. Banda was given the mandate to lead the committee that has Jere, Chikosi and Chagonda at an extraordinary meeting held in Harare.
The Zifa board went on to notify the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) about the congress decision and pleaded for lifting of Jere, Chagonda and Chikosi’s suspensions as well as that of chief executive officer Joseph Mamutse.
Zifa has also been hoping to have Fifa lift up the country’s suspension, while putting emphasis on implementing club licensing and making sure that there is compliance in all football spheres. Away from Zifa drama, the year started on a sad note with the burial of legendary football administrator, Highlanders president Ndumiso Gumede who died on 29 December 2021 and was buried on 4 January 2022.
Gumede succumbed to kidney failure and died at the age of 76. He was buried at his Inyathi rural home in Bubi District, Matabeleland North. A month later, Highlanders held their elections for the vice-chairman and treasurer’s positions where 253 members cast their votes.
Fiso Siziba won the vice-chairman’s contest, polling 202 votes while his competitor Babongile Sikhonjwa got 51 votes. Busani Mthombeni won the treasurer’s position with 140 votes compared to Xolisani Moyo’s 112. There was one spoiled ballot in the treasurer’s election.
PSL championship
FC Platinum joined the elite group of country’s giants that have won four consecutive league titles. Highlanders and Dynamos are the other teams that have won four successive league titles in the modern Premier Soccer League. The Platinum miners won the 2021/22 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title with ease and went on to have their gaffer Norman Mapeza voted Coach of the Year while Walter Musona won the Soccer Star of the Year.
Chibuku Super Cup
Bulawayo Chiefs put aside their financial troubles to lift the Chibuku Super Cup after edging Herentals 1-0 in a final played at Barbourfields Stadium. Pint-sized midfielder Arthure “Diego” Musiyiwa scored the solitary goal, which tore the hearts of Herentals.
On their way to lifting the Chibuku Super Cup, Chiefs knocked out ZPC Kariba in the first round and 2019 champions Highlanders in the quarter-finals by identical 1-0 score lines. They went on to dehorn Black Rhinos 5-4 after penalty shootouts in the semi-finals having played to a 0-0 in regulation time to set up a final showdown with Herentals.
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