Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) CEO Yvonne Manwa is facing calls to resign after attending a meeting where Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs voted to freeze relegation. The decision, which was later deemed null and void by ZIFA, has sparked outrage among football stakeholders. Manwa’s presence at the meeting has raised questions about her leadership and whether she did enough to advise the clubs against the proposal .
The controversy comes as ZIFA proposes expanding the PSL to 20 teams from the current 18, citing international best practices and the need for a more comprehensive competition calendar. The proposal, which is expected to take effect from the 2026 season, aims to create more opportunities for clubs from various regions and enhance the league’s commercial value. However, critics argue that the move is a plight to save struggling giants Dynamos and Highlanders from relegation .
The row has also sparked a heated debate about the state of Zimbabwean football, with some lawmakers calling for the ZIFA Normalisation Committee to resign. “We cannot allow our football to be run by clueless individuals with selfish agendas,” said MP Chamu Chiwanza. The ZIFA Normalisation Committee has been accused of lacking transparency and accountability, with some critics questioning the leadership of committee chair Lincoln Mutasa .
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