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Losers withdraw appeal against Zifa's Magwizi
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Former Premier Soccer League chairperson Twine Phiri and ex-ZIFA financial director Phillemon Machana have withdrawn their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), effectively clearing the final legal obstacle to Nqobile Magwizi's January 25 election as ZIFA president.
The pair had initially challenged the election process, citing alleged interference by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who reportedly offered a $1 million sponsorship package to ZIFA and personal vehicles to electors if they voted for Magwizi.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Phiri and Machana said their decision to drop the appeal was motivated by a desire to foster stability and growth in Zimbabwean football.
"We are withdrawing our appeal in order to allow football space to heal, stabilise, and grow in an environment where the new executive committee, led by the current president, will begin on a clean and uncontested slate," they said.
The ZIFA presidential election faced criticism after several high-profile candidates, including Temba Mliswa and Walter Magaya, were barred from contesting. They failed to meet the eligibility requirement of having at least five O' Level passes, among other conditions.
Despite initial allegations of interference, Phiri and Machana have now reversed their stance regarding Chivayo's role, acknowledging his historical contributions to football.
"Mr. Chivayo is no stranger to football sponsorship," the statement read. "We now withdraw our suggestion that he interfered in the election. His and others' support for the game has always been invaluable, even in challenging times."
Phiri and Machana emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration under the new executive committee. They urged all stakeholders to rally behind Magwizi's leadership, highlighting the need for collective efforts to ensure the stability and progress of Zimbabwean football.
"Our engagements over the past few days, both solicited and unsolicited, with several key stakeholders, have influenced this latest decision," they said. "We believe football will never again experience the kind of challenges witnessed in the most recent ZIFA elections."
They confirmed that their lawyers had been instructed to formally withdraw the CAS appeal, paving the way for FIFA to proceed with the induction of the new ZIFA leadership.
With the legal dispute now resolved, attention turns to FIFA's role in guiding the new ZIFA executive committee through induction and governance processes. Magwizi's administration will be tasked with addressing the challenges facing Zimbabwean football and restoring public confidence in the sport's leadership.
The withdrawal of the appeal marks a significant step towards unity and a fresh start for the football fraternity in Zimbabwe.
The pair had initially challenged the election process, citing alleged interference by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who reportedly offered a $1 million sponsorship package to ZIFA and personal vehicles to electors if they voted for Magwizi.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Phiri and Machana said their decision to drop the appeal was motivated by a desire to foster stability and growth in Zimbabwean football.
"We are withdrawing our appeal in order to allow football space to heal, stabilise, and grow in an environment where the new executive committee, led by the current president, will begin on a clean and uncontested slate," they said.
The ZIFA presidential election faced criticism after several high-profile candidates, including Temba Mliswa and Walter Magaya, were barred from contesting. They failed to meet the eligibility requirement of having at least five O' Level passes, among other conditions.
Despite initial allegations of interference, Phiri and Machana have now reversed their stance regarding Chivayo's role, acknowledging his historical contributions to football.
"Mr. Chivayo is no stranger to football sponsorship," the statement read. "We now withdraw our suggestion that he interfered in the election. His and others' support for the game has always been invaluable, even in challenging times."
Phiri and Machana emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration under the new executive committee. They urged all stakeholders to rally behind Magwizi's leadership, highlighting the need for collective efforts to ensure the stability and progress of Zimbabwean football.
"Our engagements over the past few days, both solicited and unsolicited, with several key stakeholders, have influenced this latest decision," they said. "We believe football will never again experience the kind of challenges witnessed in the most recent ZIFA elections."
They confirmed that their lawyers had been instructed to formally withdraw the CAS appeal, paving the way for FIFA to proceed with the induction of the new ZIFA leadership.
With the legal dispute now resolved, attention turns to FIFA's role in guiding the new ZIFA executive committee through induction and governance processes. Magwizi's administration will be tasked with addressing the challenges facing Zimbabwean football and restoring public confidence in the sport's leadership.
The withdrawal of the appeal marks a significant step towards unity and a fresh start for the football fraternity in Zimbabwe.
Source - zimlive
