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Trevor Carelse Juul

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA presidential candidate Trevor Carelse-Juul yesterday flew back to his base in South Africa after barely spending 24 hours in the country where he met with some Bulawayo-based councillors. Speaking to Chronicle Sport from South Africa yesterday, Carelse-Juul, who will battle for the post on December 5 together with property mogul Phillip Chiyangwa, former Dynamos and Premier Soccer League secretary-general Leslie Gwindi and 1984 Soccer Star of the Year James Takavada, said he had to cut short his stay in Zimbabwe to attend to some urgent business back in South Africa.

He was meant to drive to Gweru yesterday to meet some councillors before heading to Harare. “Something urgent came up and I had to fly back here (to South Africa). Someone very close is in hospital,” said Carelse-Juul.

He said he had planned to stay in the country until election day. He said he was not certain on his return but was optimistic that he would be back in the country by the weekend. “It will all depend on how the situation improves,” he said.

Carelse-Juul met some councillors as well as aspiring Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda on Sunday. He also met two more councillors in Bulawayo yesterday before flying out. “I met the councillors and believe you me, every one of them was impressed by my product, my vision for football in this country,” Carelse-Juul said.

However, some councillors are of the view that the former Zifa chairman would do well as the Zifa presidential candidate in 2018. “His story is fine really but perhaps it’s a little too late for now and we were clear with him. He seems to be a man who listens and at one time told us that he will wait for God to guide him on the way forward and if God tells him to wait for 2018 he will,” said one councillor.

In response, Carelse-Juul said: “We will see about that, but for now I know that Zimbabwe football needs urgent help.”