Zifa dissolved, replaced

THE Zimbabwe Football Association has been dissolved and replaced by the National Football Association of Zimbabwe.

Zifa was dissolved yesterday during an extra-ordinary general meeting held in Harare with 54 of the 58 councillors voting for the association to dissolve itself. NFAZ president Philip Chiyangwa is said to have informed Zifa councillors that he could not continue with the old association that is laden with debts saying he had come in to advance football and not deal with debts.

“I told them it’s either we go forward together or I leave and they voted in charting a new course for Zimbabwe with me,” he said. Zifa is wallowing in a debt believed to be over $7 million and the move to dissolve the association could assist it start on a fresh slate. In a statement released to the media late yesterday, Zifa acting chief executive officer Joseph Mamutse said: “Zifa wishes to advise all its stakeholders that on 4 June 2016 an Extraordinary Congress was convened at Zifa Village which resolved in the best interests of association football in Zimbabwe and in accordance with Article 77 of its constitution to dissolve Zifa with effect from 6 June 2016. Further the Extraordinary Congress passed resolutions to deal with matters ancillary to the dissolution. The decisions of the Extraordinary Congress have since been formally communicated to Fifa, Caf, Cosafa and the Sports and Recreation Commission”.

Premier Soccer League chief executive Kenny Ndebele was appointed secretarygeneral of NFAZ and is reportedly set to hold both positions. In a statement, Ndebele said NFAZ had adopted a constitution and taken necessary legal steps to attain status as the exclusive football mother body in the country. Sources said the NFAZ executive committee is reportedly made up of Chiyangwa as president, Omega Sibanda is the first vice-president and Premier Soccer League chairman, Peter Dube is the second vice-president in charge of PSL. Other members are Philemon Machana, Piraishe Mabhena, Felton Kamambo, Beaula Msara; the four regional presidents are Musa Mandaza, Stanley Chapeta, Davison Muchena and Willard Manyengavana.

Chiyangwa declined to answer further questions on what will happen to Zifa employees and their dues or the term of office of the NFAZ saying they will release further information in due course.