Soccer Experts: Zifa Dissolution An Attempt to Avoid Payment of $6 Million Debt
Legal expert advocate Lewis Uriri, says although there was nothing wrong with the dissolution of Zifa, the manner in which it was done had an element of fraud.
HARARE — The Sport and Recreation Commission has not yet registered the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (NFAZ), 10 days after it was formed. The acting director general of the Sport and Recreation Commission Joseph Muchechetere revealed that the supreme sports body has not yet registered NFAZ as that is the duty of the SRC board which has not yet been appointed by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane. Muchechetere says they would look at the application submitted by the football association only when the board has been appointed. The term of the past SRC board expired at the end of last year and Hlongwane could not be reached to shed light as to when a new board would be put in place. The new football association, NFAZ, was formed on June 4 following the dissolution of the Zimbabwe Football Association in a move orchestrated by former Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa, who now leads NFAZ. Legal expert advocate Lewis Uriri, who is also the chairman of Caps United, says although there was nothing wrong with the dissolution of Zifa, the manner in which it was done had an element of fraud as it was aiming at avoiding paying debts. Reknowned sports administrator and former chairman of the Sport and Recreation Commission, David Mutambara, says the Zifa Assembly which dissolved Zifa and created NFAZ should not run away from their financial obligations. His views are echoed by former Premier Soccer League Chief Executive Officer, Chris Sambo, who adds that the SRC should not register NFAZ as procedure was not followed in the dissolution of Zifa and the creation of NFAZ. Sambo says he is still surprised that the new football association continues to be operational despite the fact that it has not yet been registered by the SRC. Fifa have not yet endorsed NFAZ but Chiyangwa says he has the final say in local football matters and Fifa has to listen to him and nobody else.