The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
. . . Mubaiwa vows to fight another day
KENNY MUBAIWA vowed to continue contesting for the Premier Soccer League chairmanship despite suffering a second consecutive heavy defeat in polls conducted in Harare yesterday.
The Dynamos president was trounced 11- 4 by Highlanders boss Peter Dube on a day that he was accused of being a “bully with a big brother attitude” by some PSL governors.
In 2014, Mubaiwa lost 13-3 against Twine Phiri.
Fifteen clubs voted yesterday after ZPC Kariba was disqualified as they were represented by a secretary, Robert Mamvura.
Section 21 of the PSL constitution states that delegates to the Congress should only be the president or chairman of a member club.
Dube was deputy to ousted former PSL chairman Phiri and will constitutionally be in charge for the remainder of the current term which expires in March 2018.
He will also sit on the Zifa board.
Mubaiwa conceded defeat but vowed to contest in future elections.
“I will not give up, as long as there are elections I will contest. The last time there were only two candidates, myself and Twine (Phiri) and today (yesterday), it is only two again.
“Maybe the other governors do not want to try, so for elections to happen there must be contestants and if others do not want it I will go for it,” said Mubaiwa soon after the election.
“The governors have spoken, their choice is Peter Dube, that is the man they want to lead them. But I must say the election was free and fair.
“I do not want to be a bad loser, I will continue cooperating with Dube and I wish him good luck in his new journey.”
In his inaugural remarks as PSL chairman, Dube promised transparency, fairness and adherence to the league’s rules and regulations.
The Bosso chairman also spoke about the need to preserve the league’s traditional sponsors.
“There was no winner or loser today (yesterday), it is rather a re-arrangement of the sitting system in our governance structure.
“We remain a closely knit family that will continue working together.
“There is work to be done not only in the PSL but in the national landscape in general and now that I can sit on the Zifa board, I should contribute more,” said Dube.
“Transparency, fairness and adherence to the statues is something that will be maintained.
“These partnerships that we have with the sponsors are all dependent on the image that we portray.
“If there is any risk in associating with the league, we certainly can wake up one day and find no one willing to partner the Premier Soccer League.
“I am happy we have got traditional sponsors that are still with us today, all we need to do is to uphold our ethical conduct that we have always distinguished ourselves in.
“Going forward, understanding of course that the economic climate is not favourable to anyone at the moment, it is a challenge for us to say how can we move forward and look for more partners to support us and broaden our financial power,” said Dube.
The general feeling among the PSL Board of Governors was that the election of Dube would ensure continuity and stability in the league.
Others were blunt in their condemnation of “Mubaiwa’s conduct” with some urging the lanky DeMbare boss to go for the vice chairmanship.
Bulawayo City boss, Jerry Sibanda urged him to canvass for the PSL vice chairmanship “so that he can have two years of learning the ropes.”
According to the Zifa Electoral Committee headed by retired Judge Sello Nare, the PSL will co-opt a vice chairman until their next Annual General Meeting where a new deputy will be selected through the ballot.
“I have nothing against Kenny (Mubaiwa), but we need someone who speaks for small boys and that can be found in Dube.
“The result was fair, we don’t want to kill our football by making wrong decisions,” he said.
Hwange chairman Joseph Zulu said although the economy is a bit subdued, Dube should be able to bring more.
Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa was present during the elections and challenged Dube to change the face of the top flight league.
“I welcome Dube to the Zifa board and we expect him at our next board meeting.
“I urge him to work hard for the league. We want people to enjoy football, so let us change the game and attract more partners,” said Chiyangwa.
