Temba Mliswa sticks to tried, tested and failed s...

Temba Mliswa sticks to tried, tested and failed strategy in desperate bid for Zifa presidency

ZIFA Congress members snubbed his freebies and now he attacks his rivals

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Writer

Temba Mliswa has come out to move for the elimination of all viable rivals in the Zimbabwe Football Association presidency whose elections are set to run in January 2025.

Temba came up with a litany of complaints against the eligibility of CAPS United chairman and Member of Parliament Farai Jere, Northern Region chairperson Martin Kweza, Sakunda Special Projects Manager Nqobile Magwizi, and Heart Stadium owner Walter Magaya.

Mliswa alleged that first two candidates are conflicted, Magwizi should not take credit for Sakunda's role in improving football conditions in the country while Magaya should not be given credit for his personal stadium which is a commercial venture and not truly public infrastructure.

Mliswa's campaign trail for the Zifa president's post suffered a false and embarrassing start after the former Norton legislator was snubbed by key members of the Zifa Congress he had hoped to lure into his camp.

Mliswa had sought to make a statement of his popularity by inviting the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Regional chairperson on a bus trip to Polokwane ostensibly to build relationships ahead of the Zifa elections.

But none of the Regional chairmen heeded his call, a move which Zifa councillors confidentially told Zim Now, is a sign that they are not interested in his antics.

"Mliswa has never been part of the Zifa affiliate structures.

"That he worked as Warriors fitness trainer and was fired after players complained about his military style fitness training regime under coach Gibson Homela doesn't means he is fit to be Zifa president or even a board member at that," one councillor said.

Another councillor recalled how Mliswa unsuccessfully tried to gatecrash into the Zimbabwe Cricket leadership structures with the hope of having a huge say in the funds that accrue to the Cricket union from the International Cricket Council.

Mliswa also tried his hand at leading Dynamos but with no joy.

"He was appointed Dynamos chairman by then Zifa president Leo Mugabe but lasted just three days in office as the move was opposed by former players including legend Moses Chunga and then current players and supporters.

"Supporters actually held an emergency meeting at Rufaro Stadium where they resolved to eject him from Dynamos.

"Now we see that after losing his seat in parliament he thinks he can run Zifa but the no show by the Regional chairmen is a good sign of what lies ahead of him.

"In Zifa elections it not uncommon for one to register zero votes so the Sabhuku must be prepared to face that humiliation.

"Maybe after football, cricket and rugby we will see him trying to run athletics or even the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

"He also harboured ambitions of being Minister of Sport and that is Temba for you," added another Zifa councillor.

Mliswa has often and yet unsuccessfully dabbled with elections in the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and Zimbabwe Cricket.

He was left with egg in the face in May when as Gerald Sibanda's campaign manager he failed to help the former Zimbabwe wing land the ZRU presidency.

Sibanda was well beaten by Losson Mtongwiza and close runner-up Aaron Jani both of whom Mliswa had tried to bismirch in the run up to the elections.

After failing to find favour in the rugby fraternity which totally ignored his trolling of other candidates, he then tried without success to challenge Mtongwiza's ascendancy to the ZRU presidency.

Mliswa made a mess of his noise when he tried to hijack a parliamentary portfolio committee hearing on the state of rugby by using it as a platform to undermine Mtongwiza before the August house.

Now, Mliswa appears to have taken the same strategy in a bid to become the Zifa boss.

Well, only a few weeks are left to see if Temba Mliswa can finally get something, or his story will remain the same; a man who is all over but going nowhere.

This article was originally published on 11/14/2024 and updated on 15/12/2024