Bentley-driving, self-proclaimed ‘selfie-King’, multi-millionaire businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has  promised sweeping changes at  Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) after being elected after a landslide as he immediately  promised to solve the body’s financial woes.

Chiyangwa attracted a landslide 40 votes, beating his opponents Trevor Carelse-Juul (13 votes), Leslie Gwindi (2 votes) and former national team player James Takavada (1 vote) at an extraordinary general meeting held at the ZIFA Village in Mount Hampden near Harare.

Chiyangwa who in  1980 election, was   a close ally of Robert Mugabe (of whom he was long believed to be a cousin) as party chairman of Mashonaland West  amassed a £180 million fortune, according to divorce papers filed by his wife in 2013. More recently he has taken to YouTube, presenting himself as an icon of conspicuous consumption.

“I am in. What I want now is to show people what I have been saying all along. What I am asking for is for all those candidates that have lost to come in so that we can work together for the good of the game.”

“They lost the election, but not the chance to give us their ideas to move forward as a unit. We have a tough task ahead of us. We need to take football back to where it belongs. First things first, looking at ZIFA accounts and the debts which might haunt us in the near future.”

Chiyangwa’s lieutenant Omega Sibanda made a comeback as ZIFA vice-president, polling 34 votes to Lincoln Mutasa’s 23.

The ZIFA Board also has a new composition with Eastern Region chairman Piraishe Mabhena (36 votes), Central Region chairman Felton Kamambo (34 votes), Philemon Machana (32 votes) and former Warriors player Edzai Kasinauyo (29 votes) being elected.

Losing candidate Juul, who had faced a battle to get himself on the ballot in the face of objections from Chiyangwa’s solicitors, congratulated his opponent saying, “They have spoken. This is what they want, but I hope it’s for the good of Zimbabwean football.”

“I will not have problems in working with anyone, but from my votes, you can tell that there are a few loyal people that will always vote for me.”

The congress also adopted the organisation’s audited accounts, opening the way for ZIFA to receive funding from FIFA although FIFA’s manager for member associations, who was present at the poll, warned that action would have to be taken quickly on the issue of former coach Tom Saintfiet’s outstanding salary if Zimbabwe is to avoid being banned from the 2022 World Cup, saying, “The new board has big challenges ahead of it. If they don’t deal with this issue until January 4 2016, then what it means is we will have a repeat of what happened recently, Zimbabwe missing the 2022 World Cup, which will not be good for the country.”

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com