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Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
SHURUGWI South National Assembly representative Tapiwanashe Matangaidze has slammed Zifa for setting exorbitant fees for prospective contestants in next year’s elections. The former Premier Soccer League chairman, who fought and lost in the last Zifa elections, said the association should table its elections budget for public scrutiny.Zifa has set up fees as high as US$10 000 for people wishing to participate in the elections in a move that observers have said in an attempt to prevent challenges to incumbent office bearers.

Matangaidze said he will soon move a motion for parliament to act on challenges facing sport in the country.
Matangaidze, considered one of the finest football administrators in the country, said this while contributing to debate on the speech made by

President Mugabe at the official opening of the eighth session of parliament.
“At an appropriate time I am proposing to table a motion on challenges facing our sport,” he said.
Matangaidze commended President Mugabe for establishing a Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture and said he hoped this will ensure funding for national sporting teams.

“I want to thank His Excellency for setting up the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture because sport impact on us all whether we are participants, supporters, or administrators.
“Because of this move I think we will no more be continental punching bags and no more will we be perennial underachievers.

“Treasury should ensure there is funding for national teams and also that there is good governance in sport bodies,” he said. A number of national teams in various disciplines have failed to fulfill international fixtures while their preparations have also been shoddy in most instances leading to defeats that have embarrassed the nation.