Dube, Mubaiwa square off in PSL elections

Sport
The country’s two biggest clubs — Bulawayo giants Highlanders and Harare giants Dynamos — usually kickstart football action in every new soccer season, mostly with President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebration cup.

The country’s two biggest clubs — Bulawayo giants Highlanders and Harare giants Dynamos — usually kickstart football action in every new soccer season, mostly with President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebration cup.

Brian Nkiwane

As usual, the two will renew their rivalry this year, but this time it is not on the field of play. Their bosses — Peter Dube and Keni Mubaiwa — will next Saturday come face-to-face, fighting for the Premier Soccer League top post.

Kenny Mubaiwa
Kenny Mubaiwa

The post fell vacant after former boss Twine Phiri, whose tenure was supposed to end in 2018, was pushed out by the new Zifa board for controversial reasons.

The two are the only candidates that have shown interest in the post. Dube has been in the setup as vice-chairman to Phiri while Mubaiwa is making a second attempt for the post after losing to Phiri in previous elections.

Unlike the Zifa elections where the association assembly has been accused of voting with their stomachs, the PSL elections are deemed more credible and usually usher in the best candidates for the good of the game. The PSL governors are believed to be professional people that cannot be bribed.

Standardsport caught up with the two candidates and spoke to them about what they have up their sleeves for the game of football in Zimbabwe.

“The fact that I am coming to stand for the second time means I have something to offer to our football. All I need is that chance. Our football has not been doing very well. There are a lot of anomalies that need to be corrected,” Mubaiwa said.

He added, “Our football is no longer enjoyable. It has lost that derby fever. Even if Dynamos play Highlanders, or Dynamos play CAPS United, it’s no longer the same. You even try to lower the gate entry charges to a dollar, but people will still not come. My intention is to find the reason for that and correct it before it’s too late.”

Mubaiwa also emphasised the need to revive junior football.

“My other priority is to see the revival of junior football. If it means creating their own league where we will all go and get players, then we have to do that. Talent is abundant in Zimbabwe but clubs are not patient enough to scout and develop players. All they want is to chase players that have already made a name for themselves. These players do not last long as they will be at their peak around the age of 26. They only play for two to three seasons, and they are finished,” Mubaiwa said.

Peter Dube
Peter Dube

He went on to tell a heartbreaking story of Chicken Inn striker Edmore Chirambadare, who he said was one player who the nation almost lost because soccer administrators did not look for talent out in the rural areas.

“Chirambadare almost went to the rural areas to heard cattle, but someone saw him and made sure he got a chance to be tried and here he is, winning the championship with Chicken Inn where he has been a revelation to watch. We helped a poor guy get employment.” The Dynamos boss proposed that elections be set aside and all the 16 governors simply sit at a round table to choose who they think can be the best candidate.

“At times, having elections is a waste of time. I think as the 16 governors, we are all old enough to be able to decide on our own who should lead us. Only when we fail to reach a consensus should we conduct elections to choose.”

Asked whether taking over as PSL boss would not put him under pressure, taking into consideration that he is the boss at Dynamos, Mubaiwa said he was used to the pressure and had come of age.

“I am used to the pressure and I have for the past years mastered how to make fans at Dynamos happy. I hope to do the same with all football lovers when I get into office.”

Talking about his chances, Mubaiwa was full of confidence. “I have no doubt I will land the post.”

His rival Dube chose to be diplomatic, considering the storm brewing between PSL and the country’s football governing body, Zifa.

“I would like to thank you for giving me the chance to lay out my vision, but I cannot say it just yet. The problem is there are a lot of things happening now so I don’t even know whether my papers are going to sail through. But if they do sail through and I am in, I have no doubt I will win. I have been there, I know what needs to be done and I know club leaders have confidence in me,” Dube said.

“This means I will have a lot to say after the weekend when the verification process is over and after having known my fate. For now, let’s wait and see what happens.”