Sports Reporter
A heated debate has erupted in the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) presidential election, with candidate Temba Mliswa taking aim at fellow aspirant Nqobile Magwizi’s qualifications.
Mliswa dismissed Magwizi’s resume as unfit for the presidency, suggesting he would be better suited for a CEO role.
“I saw Nqobile Magwizi’s CV, and with all due respect, I would say he comes across as very qualified to be the ZIFA CEO. His kind of resume is what is needed in a CEO, not the ZIFA President,” Mliswa wrote on X.
Mliswa emphasized that the presidency requires someone with “nuance” and the ability to navigate the “hot-seat nature” of the position. Magwizi, a businessman with an extensive academic background, has secured multimillion-dollar sponsorships for Highlanders and Dynamos FC through Sakunda Holdings and overseen stadium refurbishments.
Meanwhile, Susan Mutami, a former partner of Mliswa, has written to ZIFA warning of potential risks if he were elected.
Mutami accused Mliswa of being “irresponsible” and unfit for the presidency, citing his alleged failure to support their three-year-old son, Tinotenda.
“You will be putting all your female soccer players and office staff at risk of being taken advantage of,” Mutami wrote.
“Before you know it, the whole team and office administrators will be pregnant by Temba.”
Mutami further alleged that Mliswa’s personal conduct could undermine Zimbabwean football’s credibility with international stakeholders, particularly women-led foreign embassies.
The ZIFA elections are scheduled for January 25, 2025, with nine candidates vying for the top post. The next ZIFA president will be tasked with restoring stability, boosting grassroots football, and securing partnerships to revive the sport’s fortunes.
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