Stampede to endorse business mogul

Sport
Ten provincial chairpersons were yesterday dazzled by aspiring Zifa presidential candidate Phillip Chiyangwa’s flamboyance and possibly his manifesto

Ten provincial chairpersons were yesterday dazzled by aspiring Zifa presidential candidate Phillip Chiyangwa’s flamboyance and possibly his manifesto as they unanimously endorsed him for the December 5 election during a meeting held in the capital.

BY OUR STAFF

The endorsement came barely a few days after Chiyangwa was endorsed by the four regional chairs. The meeting, as expected, was held at Chiyangwa’s offices along Enterprise Road in Harare and was attended by all the 10 provincial chairpersons, with his campaign strategist Farai Jere also making a surprise visit to address the councillors.

Chiyangwa and Jere took turns to give the councillors a road map of how they intended to breathe life into Zimbabwean football, which is now reeling in intensive care unit.

Speaking after the meeting, Midlands province Zifa chairman Brian Chishanga said they had endorsed Chiyangwa as their presidential candidate.

“We have agreed as provincial chairpersons that we endorse Chiyangwa as our next football leader. We have taken a position that we are all going to vote for Chiyangwa. Remember, there are four votes for our area zones which translate to 14 votes that Chiyangwa has already bagged,” Chishanga said in a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, Chiyangwa told Standardsport that he would need 90 days if elected into office to deal with Zifa debts.

He said his election would be a stepping stone to bigger posts at the continental football body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the world football motherbody, Fifa.

“I have no intentions whatsoever to stay as Zifa boss for more than the two years that I have talked about. My aim is to use this as a stepping stone for a bigger post in CAF and Fifa, that’s what I am aiming at. I want to put Zimbabwe on the international map by holding an influential post either at Caf or even at Fifa,” Chiyangwa said.