Calls for Andrew Langa, Cuthbert Dube to step down

CALLS for Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa and Zifa boss Cuthbert Dube to step down heightened last night.

Chris Sambo, a veteran football administrator, who at some stage was with colourful Blackpool and later became the Premiership's first chief executive officer, said the football family in Zimbabwe was disappointed with Minister Langa.

He said the soft position that he (Langa) was taking on Zifa was doing the game no good at all.

"We're extremely disappointed with the position Langa is taking. Even last week when we met him he said the Sport and Recreation Commission would investigate. What's there to investigate? It's all clear that Zifa have failed, they've lost supporters and the corporate world.

"We're four months before the 2017 qualifiers start, we don't even have a team in place nor do we have a coach. Langa is going round and round in circles," said Sambo.

He said the fact that in the past Zifa have failed to submit audited statements was reason enough to fire the board or de-register the association. The Sport and Recreation Commission Act allows for that, Sambo said.

"Zifa can be de-registered or disbanded because they've failed to submit audited statements as required by the SRC Act. We all know the state of Zimbabwean football, Langa should liaise with Fifa.

"You know some people are even suggesting that a rival national association be formed since Dube does not want to step down and save himself the blushes," said Sambo.

He noted that it was unheard of for a national association president not to attend national team matches or those of the elite league. Further shocking is the fact that Dube has rarely set foot at 53 Livingstone Way – the Zifa headquarters.

He said Deputy Minister of Sport Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga was right in threatening to disband the Zifa board as she had the concerns of the nation at heart unlike Minister Langa.

Susan Chibizhe who built women's football into a powerful brand in the 1990s joined in the chorus for action to be taken.

"The problem is that we'll be suspended. Dube has been working very hard, the situation which is there, the Minister should call a stakeholders meeting. Everybody must participate.

"We are trying to follow procedure. People shouldn't suffer because Cuthbert Dube and board do not want to step down. Let's try to identify the problem, we seem not to have a vision. It's sad the vote of no confidence clause was removed from the Zifa constitution. The corporate world supported Vincent Pamire during his tenure and it should be worrying why they're not these days. There was no government support financially then," said Chibizhe.

Chibizhe said Deputy Minister Kanengoni- Malinga was a mother who listened to people and wanted football to return to its feet.

Leslie Gwindi said it was time to suspend all football structures.

He said Kanengoni-Malinga had articulated the problems in football.

"This is a great opportunity to clean football. Suspend everything. Dube is saying the same thing he has been saying since 2012 and the game isn't moving forward, no national teams in place."

Gwindi said Zifa would even fail if they were given $50 million for their operations.

"It's management that attracts sponsorship. Even if you gave them $50 million, this Zifa board would fail. The SRC should de-register Zifa. We've been consistent that Dube will not take us anywhere and we're disturbed by Minister Langa's stance. We shouldn't lose this opportunity to sort out the problems in the game," said Gwindi.

Former Zifa president Pamire who guided the nation to its first Africa Cup of Nations finals, said Minister Langa and Dube were letting down the nation.

"Football is team work they (Zifa board) are no longer united. They must go for a serious football indaba, they should not develop stiff necks. They're now going in reverse gear.

"Langa's stance will haunt him, he should show leadership and not to be led. We don't want a circus, it's a serious matter. Kanengoni-Malinga has shown good leadership which is what the people want, things at Zifa can't be allowed to go on that way. Football is the biggest sport in the country and when there are problems we expect the Minister to act and those at Zifa like Cuthbert Dube to step down," said Pamire.

Pressure is mounting on Dube to step down but on Saturday the Zifa boss came out of a meeting with the disappointing SRC board defiant that he will not step down.

In his defence Dube said their biggest challenge was that of financial resources, something acting SRC board chairman Edward Siwela appeared to agree with.

Zifa have failed to attract corporate partnerships since Dube took over.