The Premier Soccer League (PSL) secretariat has been restructured with treasurer Harrison Mbewe being dropped while former executive secretary Cuthbert Mutandwa is the new finance and administration boss.
Mbewe was in that position having been seconded by Dynamos, but since he has been relieved of that position at the former champions, the PSL board of governors agreed to stop him from executing any duties at the league.
This was after Dynamos wrote a letter of protest to the PSL against Mbewe’s presence in the committee and seconded their new treasurer Webster Chikengezha to the post.
The PSL board of governors held a meeting on September 3 in Harare to review the 2011 season and the restructuring of the secretariat was among the top agenda items of the meeting which the chairman Twine Phiri announced on the day.
Both Mbewe and Chikengezha pitched up at the meeting, but were ordered to go and put their house in order.
“The executive committee has reviewed the secretariat structure with the view of preparing for the growth of the organisation. The position of executive secretary has been abolished and incumbent has assumed the role of finance and administration manager. Three posts have been created, these being, events manager, IT and marketing manager and development manager. The position of IT and marketing manager will be advertised in due course, as we need to work closely with our sponsors,” read the chairman’s report on the meeting.
The executive committee of the PSL which has endorsed the changes comprised Phiri, PSL vice-chairman Joseph Zulu (Hwange), board members Eric Rosen (marketing) of Motor Action, Chicken Inn’s Tawengwa Hara (competitions) and Cuthbert Chitima (development) of Gunners.
According to the proposed PSL structure, the owners of the league, the board of governors are at the top, followed by the executive committee and then the chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele.
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There are two private assistants to the chief executive officer, one based in Harare and the other in Bulawayo.
The finance and administration manager, development manager IT and marketing manager, report to the chief executive officer and below them is administration clerk/messenger, finance clerk and development officer.
In his report Phiri said the executive committee had conducted a survey into the means of unlocking the league’s brand, including engaging the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing on issues of touchline advertising and the screening of matches.
Phiri said the league was negotiating with SuperSport for local league matches to be beamed on that station next season.
“The executive committee has explored various ways of unlocking the value of the league’s brand.
“Askeland Media continue to hold touchline advertising rights at all local authorities’ stadia.
Representations have been made to the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing to rectify the problem.
The executive committee has engaged Askeland Media to try and resolve the matter. It is proposed that Askeland Media should have a contract with the league and not the municipalities.
“The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) has not been broadcasting Castle Lager matches both on television and radio. ZBH have charged $60 000 to broadcast a single match on television. Negotiations with SuperSport are in progress and it is hoped that beginning next season, our matches shall be beamed on SuperSport. We have also been approached by other organisations who are willing to assist in marketing of our brand,” Phiri said.
The league was without a sponsor since 2006 until Delta Beverages came on board with a $600 000 package for the 2011 Premiership under the Castle Lager brand.
BancABC this year poured in $500 000 for the Sup8r Cup which was won by Motor Action after beating Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium last Saturday.
A diamond mining concern, Mbada Holdings, will on Friday launch a 16-team tournament which begins on September 25.
The final will be on November 26 when the curtain comes down on the 2011 Premiership season.
