Chiyangwa ends impasse
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa underlined his leadership capacity yesterday when he moved in to ease simmering tensions between t he association and their biggest affiliate, the Premier Soccer League.
A day after returning from a crucial meeting of the Organising Committee of the African Cup of Nations, Chiyangwa summoned PSL’s emergency committee for an indaba at ZIFA headquarters, which helped clear the air over the unease between the two bodies.
Following weeks of seemingly growing tensions between ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League, the two bodies met at an indaba which Chiyangwa chaired.
The ZIFA boss was in the company of the association’s chief executive Joseph Mamutse and communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela.
It emerged at the end of the meeting that the tension between the association and their biggest affiliate was largely centred on some disparities between their respective constitutions.
“The meeting noted t hat it was imperative for t he Premier Soccer League’s constitution and those of all other ZIFA members including the Regions, Provinces, Women Soccer League, Area Zones, National Association of Primary School heads, National Association of Secondary school heads, National Association of Tertiary Institutions, Beach football , and Futsal to be aligned with the ZIFA constitution.
“This resolution will now be put on the agenda of the next ZIFA Congress for determination,’’ Gwesela said.
Crucially, yesterday, was the initiative undertaken by Chiyangwa in the bid to restore normalcy in the relations with their biggest affiliate and cash cow.
During the meeting, ZIFA reversed their earlier decision to bar the PSL’s judicial body — the disciplinary committee — from handling any disputes and executing penalties.
“The status quo at the Premier Soccer League will remain unchanged until the alignment of their constitution.”
Gwesela insisted that the said tensions between ZIFA and PSL had only been centred on constitutional f is- sures, which would be overcome once that has been aligned.
Apart from the PSL, who to their credit have been complaint in meeting all their other obligations to ZIFA and including being up-to- date with the Sport and Recreation Commission and the ZIFA levies, the association also want their other affiliates who include the four regions, Futsal and NASH to align their statutes with the mother body’s constitution.
It also expected that after yesterday’s indaba, there should be no further bone of contention or suspicions by ZIFA that the PSL might be working on usurping their power or speculation that the Chiyangwa’s leadership was in a frenzied bid to micro-manage the Premiership’s affairs.
This development also means that officials, coaches and players who stray from the line that defines disciplines in the Premier Soccer League just like those in the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Central region leagues will continue to be hauled before their disciplinary committees if found to be bringing the game into disrepute
Given t he decision by ZIFA to maintain t he status quo at PSL, it also means that Chicken Inn gaffer Rahman Gumbo could still come before a disciplinary committee for his actions in the ill-fated Chibuku Super Cup first round clash between the Gamecocks and Yadah Stars at Ascot last month.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe has also been f i ned for bring the game into disrepute during the course of the season.
There had also been a misconception that the PSL’s disciplinary committee cannot sit as the f irst court with ZIFA’s judicial bodies being available as t he next platforms through which any aggrieved parties could seek remedy on appeal.
Former Warriors mentor Gumbo had appeared to escape any sanctions after Mamutse on Wednesday wrote to his PSL counterpart Ndebele directing that the league cease any disciplinary proceedings they may have been handling and cede t hat responsibility to ZIFA.
As sanity prevailed and ZIFA- PSL relations turned on a cordial chapter, as they should often do, the mother body noted that any amendments to align the league’s constitution would be done at Congress.