HARARE - FIFA development officer for Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi has hailed the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) elections in Harare last weekend as having been free and fair, urging other countries in the region to emulate the example set by Zimbabwe. (Pictured: The W
Mamelodi supervised the vote that saw PSMAS boss Cuthbert Dube elected the new ZIFA president, replacing Wellington Nyatanga who did not contest for the post. “If any one questions the credibility of these elections, I will not agree with him. They were free and fair. This is what should happen in all the other countries. Zimbabwe have led by example,” said Mamelodi. The Gaborone-based Mamelodi said FIFA was ready to assist Zimbabwe in all facets of the game. He said there were some flaws in the ZIFA constitution and that the world soccer governing body was prepared to help ZIFA redraft the constitution.
Mamelodi also challenged the new ZIFA board to deliver. He said, “the success of the game is down to the leadership. I therefore expect the new executive to deliver. We will also try to assist them in various areas of football development like the Goal Project which has been pending. Zimbabwe is a fertile ground for grassroots football development and I look forward to a successful year for football in this country.” Meanwhile Native Investments communications director Nigel Munyati who played for Black Aces in his hey day was elected ZIFA board member in charge of marketing during elections held in Harare last weekend.
Munyati, who had rubbished reports that he was vying for a ZIFA post on the board won the elections after beating Elliot Manduna 22 against 4. The Black Aces Youth Academy director, promised to market the local game and help in securing sponsorship for the national team. “I am happy to be elected a ZIFA board member. I promise to do my best in order to deliver. There are a lot of challenges we are facing but I hope we will measure up to the challenge,” said Munyati. Munyati called for unity of purpose within the ZIFA family if the soccer mother body was to turn around Zimbabwes game that has legged behind regional competitors. “What we need right now is for people to be united and focus on improving the game of football,” he said.
Munyati is the founder and owner of Black Aces Youth Academy which produced teenage sensation Knowledge Musona now plying his trade in the ABSA premiership in South Africa with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs. Other elected ZIFA board members are Ndumiso Gumede (first vice president), Retired referee Kenny Marange – second ZIFA vice president, Methembe
Ndlovu -ZIFA board member (development), Benedict Moyo (board member) and Elliot Kasu- board member (finance)
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