Women football elections attract few contests
FORMER Zimbabwe Women’s Football board member Rosemary Kanonge is set to assume the position of chairperson after she was the only candidate to submit nominations forms for the post for elections scheduled for next Saturday.
Impeccable sources at Zifa said she would be deputised by former secretary-general Samukeliso Silengane who is uncontested in the vice-chairperson’s post.
e four committee members posts reportedly attracted five contestants Samu Unathi, Brightwell Kadenge, Rosemary Mazvidziwa, Loice Matawasi and Oga Marufu.
The vice-chairperson of the electoral committee, Tendai Madzorera confirmed they had completed the appeals and vetting process but declined naming the candidates saying they will only do so tomorrow.
He said they received seven submissions for the six positions meaning only elections for the committee members’ posts will take place on Saturday.
“The vetting process is now complete and we have seven submissions but we can only release the names on Monday,” said Madzorera on Friday.
He said they also received two applications from male candidates although Fifa’s recommendations are that women football be the preserve of women themselves right from administration, refereeing and coaching.
Madzorera, however, said they would not be barring the male candidates, whom he said would have to be subjected to the electoral process with the other female candidates.
Steep election fees and the short period of time that one would be in office are said to have discouraged many administrators from taking part in the election.
Fees for those seeking to be chairperson were pegged at $500, while those seeking to contest the vice-chairperson’s post had to pay $400 and those contesting to be committee members had to fork out $300 on top of nomination forms that were set at $50.
The incoming executive will only be in office for one year as elections are scheduled for 2018.
“The elections attracted little interest because in one year what can one plan and implement? Most people felt the period is too short to fork out the huge sums being charged by Zifa to take part. Several administrators who are eager to lead women football are now focusing on 2018,” said one administrator.
Fifa urged Zifa to quickly put the women football house in order to ensure there is smooth running of the game following disharmony that saw several members of the previous executive being suspended and were replaced by an interim committee.
In terms of article 21 of the Zifa constitution, the Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League is represented by four delegates in the Zifa assembly and should all be female.
Article 32 states that the chairperson of the Women Soccer League is a member of the Zifa executive committee.
In terms of Article 47, the chairperson of the Women Soccer League also chairs the women football standing committee, but all national teams are managed by the Zifa executive committee.
Madzorera said chairpersons or other representatives of 12 teams that were approved by Zifa will be eligible to vote. The teams in the list handed over to the Justice Sello Nare-led electoral committee are Inline Academy, Flame Lily, New Orleans, Cowdray Park Queens, Mufakose Queens, Cyclone Stars, Chipembere Queens, Faith Drive Queens, Conduit Academy, Masvingo, Zvishavane and Barrow Jets.