The Sunday News
Sports Reporters
THERE have been mixed reactions among fans over Cuthbert Dube’s resignation as Zifa president.
Some football enthusiasts expressed joy over the long awaited departure of Dube who initially resigned on Friday but was booted out of office by the Zifa Assembly yesterday.
Zifa councillors booted out all board members, who included vice-president Omega Sibanda, board member finance Benard Gwarada, board member competitions Fungai Chihuri, board member development John Phiri, board member ethics Tawengwa Hara, PSL representative Twine Phiri, women’s league chairperson Miriam Sibanda and Elizabeth Langa who replaced Sibanda after her suspension. Former vice-president Sibanda and Gwarada were also on suspension and were due to appear before a disciplinary committee, after they fell out of favour with Dube and CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze for allegedly taking sides with councillors, among other issues. After the kicking out of the board, Mashingaidze will run the association as per the constitution until elections are held on 5 December.
While most fans felt Dube’s departure was good for the game, a few felt he did not deserve to be booted out.
Wilson Mpofu of Nketa said Dube’s exit was long overdue as he had failed to improve both the image and development of the game, adding that the former Zifa president “promised much but delivered nothing”.
“The way he was elected was questionable from the start because some accused him of having ‘greased’ the councillors’ (palms) to vote for him. Football is big business and people need to take the game seriously and elect leaders who can deliver,’’ said Mpofu.
“I do not know whether the councillors will realise the mistake they made and this time around vote for a serious person who can uplift the game. The sport can make changes in many people’s lives if handled well. It can provide employment in the future,” added Mpofu, advising councillors to look at the bigger picture when electing the next Zifa president.
Obert Siabolyo said the game failed to develop during Dube’s reign and it was a relief that he has left office. He said football was an important sport that needed someone who will live up to his promises.
“Dube failed in all honesty. The way national teams’ assignments were being bungled was just embarrassing for the nation. People say he put in his money but when he came in he said he would bring sponsors on board, why didn’t he come good on that promise?” said Siabolyo of Iminyela.
Dumisani Shumba also blasted Dube saying his reign was characterised by bungling made worse by the country’s suspension from the 2018 edition of the World Cup.
“Zimbabwe seemed to stumble from one crisis to another when he was in power. I’m glad that he is gone. We can only hope that councillors do not make the same mistake again of putting someone incompetent. This time around they should put someone with integrity who can take the game forward,” he said.
Njube resident, Simeleni Sibanda said leadership change at Zifa was overdue as the organisation seemed to be in a comatose state.
However, Paul Masuku said with Dube’s departure the situation at Zifa will only get worse. He said the Harare business executive should have resigned long back because of the disdain that people treated him with, despite efforts he had made in ploughing his money into Zifa.
“It’s shocking how a nation can be so unappreciative of personal efforts being made by an individual in assisting the country.
Right now as we speak Dube lost his house that was auctioned because he used it as collateral for a Zifa cause and it’s sad that people are treating him this way. Dube did all in his power to save Zifa, paying staff salaries and putting his properties as collateral at banks but the thanks he is getting is being chased away like a dog,” said Masuku.
“For your own information, most of those councillors campaigned using Dube’s money and they owe their positions to him.
But as they say there are permanent interests but not permanent friends. Unfortunately that is our way of life.’’
Masuku heaped the Zifa blues on lack of Government goodwill saying it (Government) should fund national team assignments like what was done in other countries. Masuku said Zifa was unlikely to get corporate sponsorship because of the harsh economic climate prevailing in the country.
“Funding is difficult to come by because businesses are facing difficulties and very few have cash to spare. People want to point out the problems at Zifa but which sporting association is doing well? Which sport has done the country proud?” he said.
Brian Ntaba of Newton West blamed football politics for Dube’s resignation saying he had been cornered to resign.
He said the state of the game was unlikely to change even in Dube’s absence because problems were not caused by him and mostly had to do with funding.
Bongani Mathwasa weighed in saying Dube had done his best and blamed it all on the harsh economic climate.
“We can fire as many Zifa presidents as much as we want but things will not change because it is the economy that is leading to the demise of sports associations. Without funding what can Zifa do? We need to be realistic and open minded and not just look at someone’s failures but also see what caused him to fail,” said Mathwasa from Nkulumane.
Mpofu, Sibanda, Siabolyo and Mathwasa backed former Zifa president and last year’s losing candidate, Trevor Carelse Juul to take over from Dube saying he would be better equipped to change the football governing body’s fortunes.
