Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
AFTER several years in the administration trenches of football in the Midlands, veteran administrator Stanley Chapeta believes he has gathered enough experience to unlock the value in the Central Region through sponsorship deals.

Chapeta is one of three candidates vying for the Central Region chairmanship that was left vacant by Felton Kamambo’s election to the ZIFA board.

The Kwekwe businessman this week told The Herald that he had secured sponsorship from a South Africa-based company that is willing to back his tenure should be elected as Kamambo’s successor.

Chapeta would, however, have to shake off the challenges of Musa Ntonga who is the chairperson of relegated prisons outfit Whahwa and former ZIFA board member Patrick Hokonya, who is seeking another stint as the Central Region chairman.

A former metallurgist who now runs his businesses, Chapeta said he had noted during his time in the administrative structures of the region that there was need to uplift the welfare of the clubs and help them overcome such challenges like the payment of referees, travel costs for clubs and to ensure the ZIFA Central region secretariat is well resourced.

“We need a well-resourced secretariat. We need to identify training needs and organise refresher courses.

“Our referees and coaches within the region need to be trained, so are our administrators. This will enable us to improve the quality in all spheres.

“Clubs are overburdened with expenses. The cost of running a club is expensive, especially in this harsh economic environment. To this end I will work hard to get sponsorship for referees as a way of reducing costs on the clubs.

“I am an advocate of good corporate governance. As a result:

The Region will remain transparent and open.

Our books of accounts will be open for inspection by the assembly members.

All effort shall be made to ensure adequate internal controls and procedures are in place and adhered to at CSL.

Audited Financial statements will be produced timeously for transparency, accountability and effective decision making,’’ Chapeta said.

The move to look for sponsorship for the match officials by the former Chrome Stars chairman could help avert compromising the professionalism of referees in the region, while assisting clubs with funds to fulfil fixtures will ensure teams do not get points on a silver platter.

The Central Region, just like their counterparts in the Eastern and Southern regions were characterised by some abortive matches with a number of teams benefiting from walkovers.

In outlining his ambitious blueprint, Chapeta also emphasised the need for revival of talent identification programmes in the region, and reminisced on the fact that the Central Region was famed for producing some of the finest footballers in the country over generations.

“I will source sponsorship for the region of which am already at an advanced stage with two potential sponsors for the 2016 season and beyond. We intend to have a branded league as the sponsors will also benefit in terms of marketing their products. I have gained positive ground on the proposals as of now.

“Our juniors are the backbone of our future national teams. It is of paramount importance that we revive our junior leagues. In doing this we need to partner with schools around our region, which is made up of Matabeleland South and Midlands provinces,’’ Chapeta said.

Chapeta is credited with helping such players like midfield hardman Stephen Alimenda and Stanley Nagoli with developing their careers, while the Central Region acted as one of the conveyor belts of talent.

The 52-year-old administrator also spoke a little about his vision for the Central Region.

“I am result driven, hard working and capable football Administrator with a track record of bringing results and achieving targets. Always delivering results against strategic objectives while working within the core values and beliefs of the institution.

“I am now hoping to find a new and challenging position of Central Soccer League president that will make use of existing abilities and knowledge while developing our soccer.

“Before, my soccer environment was not complete due to work commitments, but now I will be fully available and committed because I am now retired.

“I have an undying passion for the game and I see the need to play an active role in helping development of the game. I am not coming to football to gain financially, but rather for the football fraternity to benefit from my experience.

“Having worked for two different boards that are the Southern Region and Central Region, I gained a lot of experience and I am also driven by the concern of seeing a continuous and unabated downward spiralling of the sport and the inherent drive to help our football change.

“I have also realised that the image of our region can only improve with mature, reputable, credible loyal and experienced men and women managing it, myself included,’’ Chapeta said.

 

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