The Sunday Mail
Sir
18area.coms
I HAVE never been a fan of Phillip Chiyangwa.
A part of me — a huge part of Yours Truly — loathes the way PC flaunts his wealth with the “apa hauna cash” statement, leaving me close to puking each time I come across it.
Maybe it’s jealousy. I don’t know.
Because I don’t like the guy, which is not a crime anyway, there was a time when I believed that his term as Zifa president was coming to an end. Soon.
The Zifa AGM in Harare last month was supposed to be his Waterloo, the place where the councilors would give Chiyangwa the clearest sign yet that they were fed up with him.
Some hopeless guy, who has been churning out fake news on Facebook, briefly made me feel like my wires were not crossed as the Zifa AGM drew closer and closer.
However, in the aftermath of that meeting it’s becoming increasingly clear that PC is still large and in charge of Zimbabwean football.
It does not make good reading for those who believe that the Harare property mogul is not good for football, but hey, it is what it is.
The move by the Zifa Assembly to refer every contentious issue to Fifa played into the hands of Chiyangwa.
If the truth is to be told – as it should – PC is the guy Fifa associates Zimbabwean football with. He is the guy who has tea with world football boss Gianni Infantino and has him laughing at his jokes, dry or not dry.
While others write to Fifa departments and go to town, Phillip calls the big boss directly.
What they talk about we don’t know but it’s safe to assume that PC is Infantino’s boy and has a few favours to call in from the Swiss-Italian administrator.
Fifa are yet to give their counsel to Zifa regarding the contentious elections but something tells me that whatever they will say will leave Chiyangwa smiling.
PC has told close associates that he is not scared of elections.
And he doesn’t have to be really because the chances of him winning those elections, even if they are to be called tomorrow, are bright.
Why do I say so?
Well apart from the social media hawks, who have Sports and Recreation Commission acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere fuming about the frequency he gets words pushed into his mouth on Facebook, no one appears ready to take Chiyangwa head on.
Trevor Juul has twice tried and failed to land the Zifa presidency and looks like he does not have appetite for another slugfest.
Omega Sibanda is loyal to Chiyangwa and would never dare challenge him.
Norther Region boss Willard Manyengavana is popular within the Assembly but looks timid when the heat is on.
And Heaven knows where Leslie Gwindi is!
Elsewhere, Jonathan Mashingaidze is moving from kombi to kombi with his dirty files but appears to be making very little progress in taking the “Chiyangwa cabal down” like he promised … like he stammered.
Last week Muchechetere, who appeared ready to put some fire under Chyangwa’s chair, was saying something totally different.
“I have nothing against Philip. He has been a good friend and a brother and we talk anytime. In fact I have nothing against anyone in football for that matter; I talk to Omega (Sibanda), I talk to (Phil) Machana, I talk to Mamutse. I have been in sport for more than 30 years and why should I be caught on the wrong side now?”
Good people of God, brace yourselves for more PC.
Maybe it’s time we target the “criminals” surrounding him because from where I sit Chiyangwa looks like the guy with all the aces right now.
Sir Exits the scene!
Sir is a social media football commentator and can be reached at [email protected]
