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Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze

Sikhumbuzo Moyo  Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA have sought advice from world governing football body Fifa on how to handle the Zimbabwe Women’s Football leadership issue ahead of the December 5 board elections. The women’s football leadership was literally left in shambles following the suspensions of its chairperson Miriam Sibanda and her two board members Ben Mamoshe and Edwin Magosvongwe, while another board member Trust Kwembeya resigned under unclear circumstances.

Acting chairperson Elizabeth Langa was booted out along with the entire Zifa leadership after the association’s assembly revoked their mandate, leaving just one board member Cecilia Gambe, although Langa has been masquerading as the leader.

Fifa set aside the suspensions of the Zifa board members, effectively meaning Sibanda should have retained her post. “I’m expecting some correspondence from Fifa on that issue. Try and get in touch with me tomorrow (today),” said Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze yesterday.

Women’s football is supposed to provide four voting delegates for the December 5 elections pitting four candidates for the Zifa presidency and 11 others for board members’ positions. However, Langa and Gambe have been running the affairs of the league and recently reported their chairperson Sibanda to the police on allegations of embezzlement of funds donated by Freda Rebbeca Mine.

Sources said the Mighty Warriors’ qualification for Rio 2016 Olympics is likely to escalate fights in the already fragile women’s football set-up as people position themselves ahead of the trip to Brazil. “At the moment I know that there are three people who are eyeing the chairperson post. It’s all about Rio 2016 now,” said the source.