The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
ZIFA presidential aspirant Philip Chiyangwa’s eligibility to stand for the local game’s hottest seat has received backing from two key stakeholders.
Zifa Mashonaland West chair Derick Matapuri and the coach of Zatex FC, a Northern Region Division One side, White Makina confirm that the flamboyant businessman served at Chinhoyi United and Old Citrus Farm FC.
Chiyangwa is in the running to replace impeached Cuthbert Dube in Zifa board elections set for December 5 and is the only candidate to have filed nomination papers so far.
However, his candidature has not been without controversy with some arguing the businessman falls short of the dictates of section 32(4) of Zifa’s constitution.
“The members of the executive committee shall have already been active in football administration for at least five years, must not have been previously found guilty of a criminal offence as defined under national criminal law and have residency within the territory of Zifa,” reads the section. In his manifesto Chiyangwa says he was a director at Division Two side Chinhoyi United from 1993 to 1999 and served in the same role at Division Three side Old Citrus Farm FC from 2001 to 2003.
Matapuri says he worked with Big Phil at Chinhoyi United.
“I honestly don’t know where this noise about his football experience is coming from,” he said. “I worked under him as chairman of Chinhoyi United and I can tell you that everything in his manifesto is true. He was actually the main man back then before the team folded; everybody here remembers the days we worked with him with nostalgia.
“Although I was not part of the executive that he worked with at Old Citrus, I know for a fact that he was there and we would meet regularly.”
Makina says he was Chinhoyi United’s skipper when Chiyangwa served at the club and he fondly remembers an “ordinary businessman who loved the game”.
“I played for the club from 1992 up to around 2001,” said Makina. “When (Chiyangwa) came in I was already at the club and he was not as popular as he is today. He was just like several ordinary businesspeople and would come to watch our training sessions back then.
“I wouldn’t want to lie and tell you how he would execute his duties because as players we were not privy to the way the club was run but what I can tell you for a fact is he was there.
“During his time I was actually the captain and more often he would address us and psyche us with financial rewards.”
