Sports / Soccer
Zifa general secretary fired
27 Apr 2016 at 05:38hrs | Views
JONATHAN Mashingaidze's turbulent reign as Zifa general secretary came to an end yesterday after the national association's executive committee decided not renew his contract.
Zifa chief operations officer Joseph Mamutse will act as general secretary until a replacement is appointed.
Mashingaidze had repeatedly been cited as the Achilles Heel in the administration of the national game during his turmoil-filled six-year tenure at Zifa House.
His contract expired on April 1, but many thought he would stay on longer after Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa publicly backed him in February when he declared that "as long as I'm Zifa president, he'll be here".
However, yesterday Chiyangwa emerged from the Zifa executive committee meeting and announced the departure of Mashingaidze.
In his statement published on Zifa official website, Chiyangwa said: "The Zimbabwe Football Association executive committee met in Harare on the 26th of April 2016 and resolved the following:
l The Zifa executive committee refused to renew the contract of general secretary Jonathan Mashingaidze and opted to put him on retirement.
l Chief operations officer Joseph Mamutse has assumed the role of acting general secretary with immediate effect."
Chiyangwa also announced that Zifa would hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on June 4 after failing to hold its annual general meeting last month.
Chiyangwa is mandated by the Zifa constitution to identify and recommend a suitable candidate to take over as general secretary.
It is highly likely that by the time Zifa holds its EGM in June, a substantive general secretary would have been appointed.
Sources said Mashingaidze's replacement is likely to be a woman, with odds favouring Warriors' striker Nyasha Mushekwi's ex-wife Luminista, whom Chiyangwa has described as a "genius" with requisite qualifications to land a Zifa post.
"She's actually a genius, she knows her stuff and plans are that she comes in as assistant in the technical department. Remember we're changing the face of Zifa and I've her papers with me, she qualifies for that role," Chiyangwa told the media last month.
Luminista is a holder of a degree in sport marketing and with Zifa trying to rebrand as well as taking into account Chiyangwa's waxing lyrical about her, she could get the nod ahead of other potential candidates.
What remains clear, however, is that whoever is thrust into the general secretary's post will have the mammoth task of changing the face of Zifa to lure corporate partners.
Chiyangwa also revealed that they had finally approved names of people that will serve in sub-committees, which include the referees, finance and grounds, among others.
Zifa chief operations officer Joseph Mamutse will act as general secretary until a replacement is appointed.
Mashingaidze had repeatedly been cited as the Achilles Heel in the administration of the national game during his turmoil-filled six-year tenure at Zifa House.
His contract expired on April 1, but many thought he would stay on longer after Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa publicly backed him in February when he declared that "as long as I'm Zifa president, he'll be here".
However, yesterday Chiyangwa emerged from the Zifa executive committee meeting and announced the departure of Mashingaidze.
In his statement published on Zifa official website, Chiyangwa said: "The Zimbabwe Football Association executive committee met in Harare on the 26th of April 2016 and resolved the following:
l The Zifa executive committee refused to renew the contract of general secretary Jonathan Mashingaidze and opted to put him on retirement.
l Chief operations officer Joseph Mamutse has assumed the role of acting general secretary with immediate effect."
Chiyangwa also announced that Zifa would hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on June 4 after failing to hold its annual general meeting last month.
Chiyangwa is mandated by the Zifa constitution to identify and recommend a suitable candidate to take over as general secretary.
It is highly likely that by the time Zifa holds its EGM in June, a substantive general secretary would have been appointed.
Sources said Mashingaidze's replacement is likely to be a woman, with odds favouring Warriors' striker Nyasha Mushekwi's ex-wife Luminista, whom Chiyangwa has described as a "genius" with requisite qualifications to land a Zifa post.
"She's actually a genius, she knows her stuff and plans are that she comes in as assistant in the technical department. Remember we're changing the face of Zifa and I've her papers with me, she qualifies for that role," Chiyangwa told the media last month.
Luminista is a holder of a degree in sport marketing and with Zifa trying to rebrand as well as taking into account Chiyangwa's waxing lyrical about her, she could get the nod ahead of other potential candidates.
What remains clear, however, is that whoever is thrust into the general secretary's post will have the mammoth task of changing the face of Zifa to lure corporate partners.
Chiyangwa also revealed that they had finally approved names of people that will serve in sub-committees, which include the referees, finance and grounds, among others.
Source - Chronicle
