Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports activities Correspondent

ATTORNEY ZIFA president Present Banda is dealing with critical allegations of diverting soccer gear bought by FIFA funds for political campaigns.

The Njube-Lobengula MP lately held an eight-team Below-17 soccer event in his constituency, and taking part groups obtained soccer gear bought with a FIFA grant for growth.

Nonetheless, the previous Njube Sundowns director stated yesterday that there was nothing mistaken with the distribution of the gear, because it was a choice by the ZIFA board of administrators to obtain an allocation that members would distribute to areas of their selecting.

“It’s no secret that we distribute soccer gear to districts, provinces and areas, all of that are members of ZIFA.

“There was a decision handed lengthy earlier than former chairman Felton Kamambo and different board members had been suspended by the Sports activities Fee and finally expelled by the ZIFA Congress.

“The decision stated that every board member would obtain an allocation of soccer gear, which they’d distribute to their chosen areas as a part of the distribution course of, in order that the gear would additionally attain far-flung areas.

“All of the board members bought their allocations and distributed them to the areas they wished (whereas Banda was suspended by the board). There was no new determination after I got here, we simply used the identical determination and the minutes are there in black and white.

“Not like what had occurred with the earlier board, not less than the gear reached the meant beneficiaries in our growth transfer. The gear needed to be disbanded as a result of Banda had been idle for 2 years,” he stated.

In accordance with the accessible data, all ZIFA board members obtained their allocations with Philemon Machana, the recalled former finance chief who donated at Gutu, whereas Farai Jere selected Mrehwa South and Barbara Chikosi gave it to Chimanimani.

Nonetheless, the distribution of kit has been a controversial matter lately. The legal professionals of the dismissed board members additionally wrote to the present board asking them to cease the distribution of kit.

Banda was the final when he organized a event the place three academically proficient soccer gamers aged 16 to 17 from the suburbs of Njube and Lobengula had been chosen for US scholarships after impressing a panel of coaches.

The event attracted grassroots soccer groups reminiscent of Vitality, Njube Spurs, Njube United, LMC Youth Academy, Nkalikha Stars, Lobengula Rovers, Gugulesizwe and Excessive Fliers. All of the golf equipment had been from Njube and Lobengula.

However board members are accused of utilizing soccer gear to marketing campaign for public workplace on this yr’s basic election.

Banda, founding father of former Premiership aspect Njube Sundowns, defended himself.

“How can this be an election gimmick when giving soccer gear to school-going children?” stated.

“To your personal data, I’ve been in soccer for a few years. For 10 years, I have been a sole sponsor of a staff that when performed Premiership soccer.

“That is one thing that’s at all times within me. I’m not a supervisor day and night time. If I had spent that lengthy with my very own sources out of pocket, working an expert soccer staff, how might I not have organized a one-day soccer event for the youth?

“One wonders why this has grow to be a Banda situation now, when it is a board determination and all board members are doing their half within the distribution,” Banda stated.

Alongside the controversies, one of many potential beneficiaries, 17-year-old ahead Mayibongwe Dube, scored a hat-trick for Njube Spurs, who beat Vitality FC 3-1 within the remaining of the inaugural event.

Dube, a Sobukhazi Excessive College scholar, was chosen alongside Mpopoma Excessive defender Alton Nyathi (16) and 17-year-old supporter Michael Mavenge. The trio performs for the Njube Spurs.

A panel of soccer coaches, together with former Mighty Warriors head coach Shadreck Mlauzi, former AmaZulu left-back Goodson Gama, and famend Division One head coach Morris Mukwiti, chosen the trio after watching the eight-team Below-17 staff event.