News / National
Benza rules himself out of ZIFA Presidential race
09 Nov 2024 at 17:13hrs | Views
Herentals FC owner, Innocent Benza, has officially ruled himself out of the race for the ZIFA presidency ahead of elections scheduled for January. Despite receiving numerous calls from stakeholders urging him to consider running for the top post in Zimbabwean football, Benza has decided to step aside and not contest the election.
Benza's decision has come as a surprise to many, as his successful management of Herentals FC, as well as his involvement in the development of football in Zimbabwe, has earned him considerable respect. "I have been receiving a lot of calls from stakeholders to consider running for the position of ZIFA president. However, it is not something I have been thinking about. In fact, I am ready to support whoever wants to go for it as long as they are competent and meet the required criteria," Benza said in a statement.
While Benza will not be throwing his name into the hat, he remains open to supporting the right candidate for the role, adding that he has not completely ruled out the possibility of leading ZIFA in the future. "I love football, and becoming its leader would have been quite exciting, especially with so much support from stakeholders. I am really humbled by all the calls from key football figures, and it shows that they trust me," he said.
Benza, a long-time football administrator with nearly 30 years of experience, owns several football teams under the Herentals brand, including Herentals FC in the Premier League, Herentals Under-20 in the Northern Region Division One, and Herentals Queens, which represented Zimbabwe in the CAF Champions League qualifiers earlier this year. Additionally, he runs four Division 2 Herentals teams in Harare, Rusape, Kadoma, and Bulawayo. His extensive experience also extends beyond football, as he has been involved in other sports like cricket, regularly providing players to the national teams.
The ZIFA presidential elections, which are set to take place in January 2024, will coincide with the end of the current normalisation committee's term. Several other candidates have been rumored to be interested in the position, including Caps United president Farai Jere, Yadah owner Walter Magaya, businessman Gilbert Muponda, and former Caps United owner Twine Phiri, among others. Some potential candidates are already campaigning, while others are likely to fall by the wayside due to not meeting specific eligibility requirements.
The registration of ZIFA's new constitution this week by the Sport and Recreation Commission has paved the way for the elections, and it has already sparked interest among various stakeholders who are eager to see the direction the football governing body will take in the coming years.
Benza, for his part, remains focused on supporting the right candidate for ZIFA president, guided by competence and the necessary experience to lead the country's football. "I have been in football administration for close to 30 years, and I am committed to supporting the right person for the role based on several important factors," he added.
As the election draws nearer, all eyes will be on the candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring, with Benza's decision to refrain from running leaving the door open for others to stake their claim for the top football office in Zimbabwe.
Benza's decision has come as a surprise to many, as his successful management of Herentals FC, as well as his involvement in the development of football in Zimbabwe, has earned him considerable respect. "I have been receiving a lot of calls from stakeholders to consider running for the position of ZIFA president. However, it is not something I have been thinking about. In fact, I am ready to support whoever wants to go for it as long as they are competent and meet the required criteria," Benza said in a statement.
While Benza will not be throwing his name into the hat, he remains open to supporting the right candidate for the role, adding that he has not completely ruled out the possibility of leading ZIFA in the future. "I love football, and becoming its leader would have been quite exciting, especially with so much support from stakeholders. I am really humbled by all the calls from key football figures, and it shows that they trust me," he said.
Benza, a long-time football administrator with nearly 30 years of experience, owns several football teams under the Herentals brand, including Herentals FC in the Premier League, Herentals Under-20 in the Northern Region Division One, and Herentals Queens, which represented Zimbabwe in the CAF Champions League qualifiers earlier this year. Additionally, he runs four Division 2 Herentals teams in Harare, Rusape, Kadoma, and Bulawayo. His extensive experience also extends beyond football, as he has been involved in other sports like cricket, regularly providing players to the national teams.
The registration of ZIFA's new constitution this week by the Sport and Recreation Commission has paved the way for the elections, and it has already sparked interest among various stakeholders who are eager to see the direction the football governing body will take in the coming years.
Benza, for his part, remains focused on supporting the right candidate for ZIFA president, guided by competence and the necessary experience to lead the country's football. "I have been in football administration for close to 30 years, and I am committed to supporting the right person for the role based on several important factors," he added.
As the election draws nearer, all eyes will be on the candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring, with Benza's decision to refrain from running leaving the door open for others to stake their claim for the top football office in Zimbabwe.
Source - newsday
