Ambitions crushed: Jere, Magaya, and others fall short in the race for ZIFA presidency
STAFF WRITER
In life, as in sport, not all who strive for glory succeed.
The road to leadership is often paved with dashed hopes and unmet aspirations.
The quest for the ZIFA presidency has claimed its share of casualties, leaving some prominent figures in the soccer fraternity sidelined.
Outgoing Premier Soccer League chairperson Farai Jere’s ambitions to ascend to the ZIFA presidency have been thwarted after he failed an eligibility test. His exclusion, alongside other notable figures, has dramatically reshaped the race for the top seat in Zimbabwean football governance.
The ZIFA executive committee elections, slated for January 25, will now see only six candidates vying for the presidency.
Jere joins a list of high-profile names who have fallen short, including Yadah Football Club owner Walter Magaya, former Warriors striker Benjani Mwaruwari, and politician and former Warriors fitness trainer Temba Mliswa.
ZIFA released the official list of contenders Monday, confirming the six individuals cleared to contest. These include Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, and former Highlanders and Dynamos striker Makwinje Phiri.
Twine Phiri, a former Caps United president and ex-Premier Soccer League chairperson, brings vast experience to the contest, while Machana, who served under the previous Zifa board led by Felton Kamambo, also makes a strong case. Northern Region Division One Soccer League chairperson Martin Kweza emerges as one of the favorites, having successfully passed the vetting process.
Jere, who confidently declared his intent to lead ZIFA last week, saw his hopes dashed by the electoral committee. No official reasons were given for his disqualification, though speculation suggests discrepancies in his submitted documents, including the use of his former surname, Farai Mutimbo, which he legally changed to Jere in 2002.
For Magaya, the setback is particularly bitter. Known for his significant contributions to the development of Zimbabwean football—building stadia and sponsoring women’s soccer—his exclusion underscores the harsh realities of the electoral process.
The vice-presidency race also promises to be fiercely contested. Former women’s football boss Mavis Gumbo leads the candidates vying for the post reserved for women. She faces competition from Patience Mutumwa, Joyce Kapota, Loveness Mukura, and Winnet Murota.
For the male vice-presidential position, five candidates, including Premier Soccer League CEO Kennedy Ndebele and former ZIFA vice-president Omega Sibanda, are in contention. Other hopefuls include Peter Dube, Francis Nyamutsamba, and James Takavada.
A crowded field of aspirants will compete for six ordinary board member positions. Notable names include Gilbert Saika, former Warriors team doctor Nicholas Munyonga, Tavengwa Hara from Chicken Inn, and ex-Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
The competition is further intensified by the inclusion of prominent figures like Alois Bunjira, Sunday Chidzambwa, and Alice Zeure. Others such as Harlington Shereni, Norman Matemera, and Beaullar Msarah are also in the running, reflecting a vibrant but fiercely competitive landscape.
As the race narrows, the stakes for Zimbabwean football leadership have never been higher. While some dreams have been dashed, the remaining candidates must now battle it out, carrying the hopes and aspirations of the football fraternity. January 25 will mark a pivotal moment in determining the future direction of the nation’s beloved sport.
