Stanslous Runyararo Nyachowe
Own Correspondent
Campaign has reached fever pitch ahead of the ZIFA Northern Region elections slated for this Saturday amid indications that long serving football administrator, Stanslous Runyararo Nyachowe is set to clinch the Chairmanship.
Nyachowe’s years of experience and “the failure by the current leadership” to professionalize football in the region makes him an ideal candidate, according to close sources.
Nyachowe seems to have won the hearts of soccer lovers who feel the need for new leadership to professionalize soccer in the Northern Region.
He has unveiled an ambitious reform blueprint with a clear target to professionalise football administration while restoring integrity to the region’s game.
“This is the time for Nyachowe to come in and move the league towards a new direction. The league has been stagnant if not regressing for the past 5 years under the leadership of Mushonga and Kweza,” said a concerned stakeholder.
Nyachowe who is Chief Executive Officer of Pfura Rural District Council and a long-serving football administrator said his campaign is anchored on a 10-Point Plan aimed at strengthening governance, improving standards and expanding opportunities across the league.
“If you give me the mandate to serve, I commit to building a region that is well governed, transparent, accountable and development-focused. We must take the Northern Region back to being the best run league in Zimbabwe,” he said.
His plan includes establishing an advisory board made up of former administrators, setting up a resource mobilisation committee and creating effective standing committees.
Nyachowe also intends to introduce an Ethics and Fair Play Committee, launch benchmarking missions abroad and build a regional technical centre.
He further proposes a research unit in partnership with Bindura University, the revival of inter-district and provincial tournaments, a strengthened awards committee and new strategic partnerships to support development.
Beyond the 10-point plan, Nyachowe outlines a broader vision rooted in corporate governance, club licensing compliance and statutory reform.
“Clubs must embrace good governance practices,” he said adding that licensing criteria will be strictly enforced.
He also promises a strong audit framework to curb financial indiscipline, a vigorous marketing unit, more functional judicial bodies and improved sporting facilities across the region in collaboration with local authorities.
On integrity issues, Nyachowe takes a firm stance.
“There shall be zero tolerance to match manipulation or fixing,” he said.
He added that hooliganism and crowd violence would be met with strict penalties.
Nyachowe also pledges to promote scientific research in football, expand sponsorship opportunities, strengthen the secretariat, introduce an exciting awards scheme and develop a comprehensive master plan for football growth from grassroots to regional level.
Nyachowe brings an extensive sports background, including roles in ZIFA, the Zimbabwe Footgolf Association, FIFA’s Football Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Committee and the National Youth and Paralympic Games Local Organizing Committee.
His accolades range from national footgolf titles to leadership awards from the Sports and Recreation Commission.
He has held positions in provincial sports structures, overseeing major tournaments, resource mobilisation and grassroots development.
As the race intensifies, Nyachowe is positioning himself as a reform-minded administrator ready to modernise the league.
“Our region deserves professionalism, discipline and vision. I am ready to deliver that transformation,” he said.