Chiyangwa promises to clear Zifa debt

By Ricky Zililo

ZIFA presidential aspirant Philip Chiyangwa has declared that he will clear the beleaguered association’s $6 million debt if elected, but only on condition that there’s paperwork to prove it.

Speaking during a live radio programme The Platform on ZiFM last night, the businessman, who is confident of winning the December 5 elections, said he intends to take Zifa out of the doldrums.

“We don’t want another fool running Zifa. We don’t want to have another person taking a nap at Zifa. When I’m voted in, I will service the debt only after it has been satisfied that each amount is not inflated and is justified by paperwork,” said Chiyangwa.

Asked where he will get the money to clear the huge debt, Chiyangwa responded:

“Don’t worry about the money aspect; my game is to look for money.”

He was not bothered by criticism that he lacks the qualities to run Zifa. Chiyangwa said he had covered lots of ground and has a powerful campaign team that has organised many meetings with Zifa councillors that will vote in a new board.

“As of now, I command a hell lot of support from the councillors and I’m way ahead. If people think there’s someone better than me, then they can go and pick the forms (nomination forms),” he said.

Only Leslie Gwindi has publicly declared that he will be challenging Chiyangwa for the Zifa presidency. In the last two weeks, Chiyangwa has splashed about $30,000 on the national teams, with the Warriors getting $20,000 for the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Lesotho. Yesterday, he gave the women’s team $10,000 as a bonus for qualifying for next year’s Rio Olympics.

With his credentials having been under scrutiny following concerns that he doesn’t have five years football administration experience, Chiyangwa claimed to have more than 20 years experience, saying he was part of a group that introduced five-a-side soccer in Zimbabwe.

He said he was a director at Chinhoyi FC in the 1990s before running his own club Old Citrus. He said with his influence, he would successfully negotiate for government’s assistance.

Chiyangwa also made fun of former Zifa president Cuthbert Dube, who he said had no business history but was just an employee at the Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS). The Chronicle