The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Yvonne Mapika Manwa as the substantive Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
The football association advised the nation in a statement on X formerly twitter.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association is pleased to announce that Yvonne Mapika Manwa has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer effective 1 November 2023,” read the statement.
The job fell vacant last year following the chequered tenure of Joseph Mamutse, who was eventually dismissed after he went AWOL in the factional wars that brought the game on its knees during the tenure of Felton Kamambo.
The Normalisation Committee have moved to plug the hole left by the departure of Mamutse and bring in a person with footballing background and sound administrative skills to steer the organisation.
Mrs Manwa is tasked with leading the Zimbabwe Football Association secretariat into its next phase under the Normalisation Committee.
She has vast experienced experience in senior leadership and football administration positions, having been the Chief Executive Officer of elite football club, Ngezi Platinum Stars.
ZIFA Chairperson Lincoln Mutasa had this to say about Mrs Manwa,
āWe are thrilled to welcome Mrs Manwa to our team, and we believe her experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue on the mission to transform Zimbabwean football.ā
ZIFA Media and Communications Manager Xolisani Gwesela has been the acting General Secretary since the suspension of Mamutse last year at the height of the ZIFA problems and the subsequent suspension by FIFA.
The appointment is expected to calm the turbulent ship and bring normality to the footballing fratenity.