Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Dynamos and ZIFA treasurer Bernard Gwarada has immediately put behind the late confirmation of his candidature and instantly joined rivals on the campaign trail in the build-up to the football association’s election.
The fabled ZIFA “mad season’’, or “silly season’’ as Normalisation Committee chairperson Lincoln Mutasa prefers to call it, enters its penultimate week today.
True to its tag of watershed elections, the polls have attracted a refreshingly high calibre of candidates for places on the 11-member executive committee.
Gwarada had erroneously been omitted from the list of candidates for board member released by the Normalisation Committee on December 23.
Mutasa and his colleagues on the committee — Rosemary Mugadza and Nyasha Sanyamandwe — are also sitting as the Electoral Committee for the polls scheduled for January 25. While the disqualified quartet of Benjani Mwaruwari, Gift Banda, Prophet Walter Magaya and Temba Mliswa are challenging their ineligibility, Gwarada was all smiles after getting confirmation of his candidature on Friday afternoon from ZIFA.
“I am just glad to be back in and I would like to thank ZIFA for affording me the opportunity and the councillors who have also been patient and supportive of my candidature,” said the businessman.
“I would not want to dwell on speculation surrounding the initial omission of my name.
“What is important is to hit the ground running, which I have done, and play catch-up.”
Gwarada, who was once a director at Douglas Warriors, said he would now focus his energy on charming councillors.
He is also a former ZIFA board member (finance), who served from 2014 to 2015 under Cuthbert Dube.
Currently, he is an executive director at BN Academy. In the January 25 elections, he will face 35 other contestants vying for six slots as ordinary members of the
board.
During his time at Douglas Warriors, the club produced players like Evans Gwekwerere and 2013 Soccer Star of the Year Tawanda Muparati. Former goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara, Charles Manjera and Admire Dzvukamanja are also some of the names from the club.
“We worked with coaches such as the current Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe, Arthur Tutani, Droment Chirova and Bigboy Mawiwi.
“Unfortunately, our Douglas Warriors project folded due to a harsh economic environment.
“It’s difficult for teams owned by individuals to survive,” he said.
It will, however, not be an easy road for Gwarada, with some seasoned administrators, who include Sharif Mussa, Sweeney Mushonga, Black Rhinos chairperson Edward Mutukwa, Herentals’ Tafadzwa Benza, Brighton Ushendibaba, Central region vice chairperson Thomas Marambanyika and the Eastern Region’s Davison Muchena, in the mix.
There are also a host of former players, who include Sunday Chidzambwa, Harlington Shereni, Walter Musanhu and Alois Bunjira, seeking the mandate from the councillors.
In the last week, various candidates have been traversing the country to try and woo the electorate, with the presidential candidates — Nqobile Magwizi, Martin Kweza, Philemon Machana, Mashal Gore, Twine Phiri and Makwinji Soma-Phiri — also travelling to various centres to campaign.
On Friday, ZIFA board member candidates Alice Zeure, Benza and Mussa met councillors from the Northern Region at a Harare hotel, before the latter travelled to Masvingo to speak to the Eastern Region.
Woman vice president candidate Mavis Gumbo has also been on the road, meeting Central Region electorate during the week before taking to the east yesterday.
She is scheduled to meet with those in the Northern Region in Harare this afternoon.
It has been similar tales for Mutukwa, outgoing Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele and former ZIFA communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela.
Yesterday, Omega Sibanda, who taking a crack at the vice presidency for the third time, was in Harare to try and charm voters, as were board member aspirants Kudzai Kadzombe, Patience Mutumwa and Eddie Chivero.
“We want a new ZIFA that is marketable,” Sibanda said.
Sibanda served under Cuthbert Dube and Phillip Chiyangwa but says he has some unfinished business with ZIFA.
Kadzombe, who is a director at Dutch Academy, has been preaching about grassroots football development.
She is also pushing for women to have a say in the administration of the national game.
Twine Phiri was similarly on the road as he met with Southern Region councillors in Bulawayo yesterday.
