The Sunday Mail
Sir
18area.coms
CAN I prophesy? Can I go deeper? Shout “yes papa” as I look into the spiritual realm and unravel the hidden things of Zimbabwean football.
As I look into the world that requires spiritual spectacles, I don’t see this rich politician and businessman who is named Phillip, yes Phillip Chiyangwa living up to his promise not to seek re-election at next year’s Zifa elections.
I hope you remember what PC said when he asked Farai Jere to drop his own Zifa presidential bid ahead of the December 2015 elections.
“I am going into Zifa to fix the mess, in two years I will be done and will leave the post for Farai,” Chiyangwa was quoted saying in the run-up to elections to choose the deposed Cuthbert Dube’s successor.
However, with another plebiscite due next year everything points to the incumbent seeking to extend his stay at the helm of Zimbabwe’s soccer governing body.
And by the look of things there will be no serious challengers.
Chiyangwa’s deputy Omega Sibanda is as loyal as they come while another touted potential successor, Benjani Mwaruwari, appears inclined to working with PC rather than replacing him.
Mwaruwari is being inundated with requests to plunge into football administration but the former Warriors skipper has not given a firm indication of what he intends to do.
PC has been living it up on the international football scene, rubbing shoulders with royalty and — predictably — taking “selfies” at every turn like a teenager who has just taken receipt of his first smartphone.
If you didn’t come across a picture of Chiyangwa at the Best Fifa Awards in London this past week then you are a social media dinosaur.
And while PC divides opinion at home, the 58-year-old knows how to get people to eat from his palm.
Irvine Khoza recently lauded Chiyangwa as African football’s most powerful man.
Chiyangwa’s football muscle is even being felt far away in North Africa where the Tunisian FA is the latest to invite him to their congress as a special guest.
As he ran for the Zifa job, PC unleashed his now famous “Zifa, Caf, Caf, Fifa” statement and as Yours Truly engages in divination, everything points to the guy running for the Caf presidency when Ahmad’s term expires.
The Cosafa presidency is already in the bag and now relations are being forged with blocs such as Cecafa and the North Africans.
Seeking re-election as Zifa president will be a no-brainer for a man who has grand ambitions.
In the next few months one must expect local football administrators to publicly make a bee-line to those fancy offices along Enterprise Road to “beg” Chiyangwa to reconsider his pledge not to seek re-election.
Everything will be played up in true “apa hauna cash” style, before an announcement that Chiyangwa has decided to answer the call to national duty and continue serving as Zifa boss is made.
And with Henrietta Rushwaya in his good graces again, PC has next to him a woman who knows the football trenches like the back of her hand, a woman who is capable of running the campaign machinery while he concentrates on charming the continent’s football leaders.
Rushwaya recently delivered the apology that PC publicly demanded and her combination with Wellington Mpandare and Eddie Chivero will take some beating on the campaign trail.
Sir will not get deeper but just remember a true prophet is measured by time. Whatever a true prophet says must come to pass.
Let my words be subjected to this test.
Sir exits the scene!
Sir is a social media football commentator and can be reached at [email protected]
