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Mashingaidze sent packing

Sport
Zifa boss Jonathan Mashingaidze’s reign came to an abrupt end yesterday after the executive committee decided not to renew his contract as the association’s chief executive officer

Zifa boss Jonathan Mashingaidze’s reign came to an abrupt end yesterday after the executive committee decided not to renew his contract as the association’s chief executive officer.

BY Kevin Mapasure

Rushwaya1

Mashingaidze was appointed CEO after the dismissal of Henrietta Rushwaya during Cuthbert Dube’s reign as Zifa president.

He saw through Dube’s first term, but his position had always been under threat since the board was dismissed via a vote of no-confidence that brought about fresh elections and a new leadership headed by Phillip Chiyangwa.

Yesterday, Zifa ended speculation about Mashingaidze’s position when they decided not to renew his contract, instead putting him on retirement.

A statement by Zifa yesterday confirmed the development, announcing also that Joseph Mamutse would take over in an acting capacity until a substantive CEO is appointed.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association executive committee met in Harare on April 26, 2016 and resolved the following: The Zifa executive committee refused to renew the contract of general secretary Jonathan Mashingaidze and opted to put him on retirement. Joseph Mamutse has assumed the role of acting general secretary with immediate effect,” part of the statement read.

Mashingaidze signed a five-year contract as head of the Zifa secretariat in 2011 and his deal expired on April 1 this year.

He, however, continued to carry out his duties hoping that he would get an extension, but the executive committee opted to look elsewhere.

Mashingaidze represented Zifa at a Fifa workshop of player registration in Gaborone, Botswana, last week.

Mashingaidze had a close relationship with Dube, who was dismissed for maladminstration after the Warriors were kicked out of the Fifa 2018 World Cup qualifiers owing to an unserviced salary debt to former coach José Claudinei Georgini, also known as Valinhos.

During Dube’s reign, Zifa accumulated debts that amounted to $6 million and some viewed Mashingaidze as being part of the problem.

Some in football circles believed that Mashingaidze would be dismissed soon after the elections, but the executive committee chose to wait patiently for the expiry of his contract.

Zimbabwe averted the danger of also losing out their rights to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers by settling the salary arrears due to another coach, Tom Saintfiet, after Chiyangwa had taken over.

The position of the technical director was part of the agenda yesterday, but the Zifa statement was silent on that matter. However, it is understood that Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, who held that position, would be hauled before a disciplinary committee.

Even though details of his alleged offences have not been spelt out, it is understood insubordination is part of the charges.

Meanwhile, Zifa yesterday invited tenders for a ticketing partner as they seek to plug financial leakages during international matches.

The football mother body noted that there were too many loopholes that cultivated the loss of potential revenue because of the poor ticketing system.

Ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi, Zifa wants to come up with advance tickets in a bid to milk as much as they can from that important clash and future matches. The Zifa extraordinary general meeting will be held on June 4, 2016.